Actuation housing for providing tactile feedback in vehicles

Abstract

The present invention discloses an actuator housing (100) intended to provide tactile feedback in a vehicle, the actuator housing comprising: a container (1) comprising a recess (6) configured to accommodate an oscillation actuator (3) and an insertion opening formed in the recess (6), a cover (2) configured to at least partially close the insertion opening of the container (1), the container (1) and the cover (2) being mounted to be able to move translationally relative to each other and configured so that when the oscillation actuator (3) is accommodated in the recess (6), oscillation of the oscillation actuator (3) causes the cover (2) to move translationally relative to the container (1), thereby generating tactile vibration in a movement direction (Dx).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of haptic feedback in a vehicle passenger compartment, such as a motor vehicle. It particularly relates to an actuator housing and an actuator module for haptic feedback. Background Art

[0002] Current vehicles have more and more haptic feedback functions accessible to the driver and passengers from different locations in the passenger compartment. Nevertheless, the haptic modules integrated into the passenger compartment have so far been designed and shaped to be dedicated to the integration of each different relevant decorative component. As a result, the actuators have various sizes and powers to adapt to the size, surface and weight of the components that must provide haptic feedback to the user in the same vehicle. Therefore, the size and shape of the elements that can convert the oscillating movement of the haptic oscillation actuator are all dedicated to the actuator and therefore also to the decorative component. Summary of the invention

[0003] One of the objects of the invention is to overcome at least one of these disadvantages. To this end, the invention provides an actuation housing intended to provide tactile feedback in a vehicle, the actuation housing comprising:

[0004] - a container comprising a housing configured to accommodate the oscillation actuator and an insertion opening formed into the housing,

[0005] - a cover configured to at least partially close the insertion opening of the container, the container and the cover being movably mounted for translation relative to each other and configured so that, when the oscillation actuator is housed in the housing, the oscillations of the oscillation actuator generate a relative translational movement of the cover relative to the container, thereby generating a tactile vibration in the displacement direction Dx.

[0006] The present invention therefore proposes an actuation housing that can accommodate an oscillation actuator and provide tactile feedback, which actuation housing is not dedicated to the decorative part to be integrated therein. This allows the standardization of elements with tactile vibrations, allowing easy integration into the passenger compartment. In fact, the tactile vibrations generated by the housing are sufficient to attach it to the decorative part so that the decorative part is able to provide the tactile feedback. Depending on the surface or weight of the decorative part, multiple actuation housings can be regularly fixed on the inner surface of the part in order to provide a uniform desired tactile feedback over the entire part. This allows the mass production of single housings at a lower cost. This also limits the adjustment of the actuator parameters compared to the commonly used integration method that requires adjustment of the parameters of each dedicated actuator arranged in the passenger compartment.

[0007] The expression "displacement direction Dx" in the literature denotes a displacement in two possible directions along the direction Dx.

[0008] Preferably, when the oscillation actuator is housed in the housing, the oscillations of said oscillation actuator generate a relative translational movement of the lid with respect to the container, thereby generating tactile vibrations according to a single displacement direction Dx, following the direction Dx in two possible directions.

[0009] Advantageously, the housing is dedicated to a single oscillating actuator. In other words, the housing is configured to accommodate only the actuator. It does not have the possibility or space to accommodate or receive other functions that may be provided in the actuation housing.

[0010] According to one arrangement, the cover comprises a first elastic member and a second elastic member to allow a relative translational movement of the cover relative to the container along a displacement direction Dx, the first elastic member being configured to abut against a first side wall of the container and the second elastic member being configured to abut against a second side wall of the container arranged on a side opposite to the first side wall. Thus, these elastic members can convert the oscillating movement of the actuator into a tactile vibration.

[0011] According to one possibility, the first side wall and the second side wall at least partially delimit an enclosure arranged in the container.

[0012] According to an embodiment, each of the first elastic member and the second elastic member includes a tab elastically deformable in the displacement direction Dx.

[0013] According to an alternative, the container comprises elastic means, for example a tab elastically deformable in the displacement direction Dx, configured to allow a relative translational movement of the cover relative to the container along the displacement direction Dx.

[0014] According to a particular arrangement, the cover comprises first fixing means configured to cooperate with complementary second fixing means provided on the container, the first fixing means and the complementary second fixing means being configured to hold the cover on the container in a vertical direction Dz along the height of the housing and perpendicular to the plane of extension of the cover, so as to allow a relative translational movement of the cover relative to the container in a displacement direction Dx. This advantageously makes it possible to prevent the provision of tactile vibrations in the vertical direction Dz. This also limits the size of the actuation housing.

[0015] According to one possibility, the first fixing means comprises a fixing leg and the complementary second fixing means comprises a through hole formed in a third side wall of the container and in a fourth side wall opposite to the third side wall, the fixing leg and the through hole being configured to allow clamping between the lid and the container and to hold the lid on the container in the vertical direction Dz.

[0016] Advantageously, the transverse dimensions of the fixing legs are smaller than the transverse dimensions of the through holes.Thus, measures which are easy to implement ensure said relative translational movement of the cover relative to the container in the displacement direction Dx.

[0017] According to one possibility, the cover comprises clearance zones on either side of the legs to limit friction during the relative translational movement of the cover.

[0018] Advantageously, the cover comprises guide elements which are configured to cooperate with the outer surfaces of the third and fourth side walls of the container extending in the transverse direction Dy so as to ensure the guidance of the relative translational movement of the cover relative to the container in the displacement direction Dx, the transverse direction extending substantially in the extension plane of the cover perpendicular to the displacement direction Dx.

[0019] Due to the special fit of the lid on the container, the tactile vibration is mainly contained in one direction, regardless of the type of oscillating actuator used. Therefore, a multi-directional actuator can be used while having tactile feedback in the optimal direction related to the displacement direction Dx (in both directions of the direction Dx).

[0020] According to one possibility, the third and fourth side walls of the container are perpendicular to the first and second side walls of the container.

[0021] Advantageously, the housing comprises a first bearing area and a second bearing area, which are offset in a vertical direction Dz extending along the height of the housing and substantially perpendicular to the extension plane of the cover, the first bearing area and the second bearing area being configured to receive as bearings a movable part and a fixed part of an actuator, respectively, which oscillate in a manner offset in the vertical direction Dz, so that an air gap of a predetermined thickness is formed between the fixed part and the movable part. This configuration makes it possible to ensure the presence of an air gap of a determined size, in particular for an oscillating actuator comprising a pair formed by a coil and a magnet or an electromagnet, which can be fixed on the cover or on the container. This configuration makes it possible to obtain an air gap of fixed size, the choice of actuator parameters and current intensity being set only once for all actuator housings thus standardized.

[0022] Advantageously, the dimensions of the container and cover of the actuation housing and the positioning of the first and second bearing areas are configured according to the thickness of the movable and fixed parts of the oscillation actuator so as to generate a gap space defining an air gap with a thickness preferably less than about 0.5 mm + / - 0.1 mm.

[0023] According to one arrangement, the container comprises a housing configured to accommodate a single oscillating actuator. It is thus easier to form an air gap of a predetermined thickness between the fixed part and the movable part of the single actuator.

[0024] Advantageously, the cover and / or the container comprises first fixing elements configured to fix the actuation housing to a body of the vehicle and second fixing elements configured to fix the actuation housing to a trim component of the vehicle passenger compartment.

[0025] Thus, the oscillating actuator that generates a relative translational movement of the lid with respect to the container of the tactile vibration type also generates a relative translational movement of the decorative part with respect to the body in the displacement direction Dx, thereby providing tactile feedback to the user.

[0026] According to one possibility, the container and the cover each comprise a part made of a molded plastic material. It is thus possible to mass-produce the actuation housings while maintaining the same air gap for each actuator. The magnetic field and the oscillating feedback are directly related to the thickness of the air gap and once the optimal setting of the parameters is found, it is replicated in the same way for each actuation housing in the vehicle. This provides improved ease of use with respect to other situations where the vehicle comprises different actuation housings each dedicated to an actuator which itself is dimensioned according to the trim component.

[0027] According to another aspect, the invention provides a haptic feedback actuator module intended to be integrated into a vehicle passenger compartment, the haptic feedback actuator module comprising:

[0028] - an actuation housing as described above;

[0029] - an oscillating actuator housed in the housing so as to generate tactile vibrations in the displacement direction Dx.

[0030] According to one possibility, the actuator module comprises a trim component of the vehicle passenger compartment and one of the cover or the receptacle of the actuation housing forms an integral part of the trim component, the other of the receptacle or the cover being intended to be fixed to a support of the vehicle body.

[0031] This configuration can improve the compactness of the actuator module, container or cover while maintaining its standard characteristics.

[0032] According to one possibility, the oscillating actuator comprises:

[0033] - a movable part, such as an array of magnets attached to the cover, and

[0034] - A fixing component, such as an array of coils, for example fixed or printed on a container forming an integral part of the rear face of the trim component and the cover is intended to be fixed to a support of the vehicle body.

[0035] According to another possibility, the oscillating actuator is an actuator having a rotary motor, the movable part of which is fixed to the cover.

[0036] According to an alternative embodiment, the container forms an integral part of the rear face of the trim part and the cover is intended to be fixed to a support of the vehicle body.

[0037] According to another possibility, the actuator module comprises a contact sensor configured to detect a user's finger on the front side of the decorative component. The contact sensor transmits the detected contact of the user's finger to the control unit, which supplies power back to the oscillating actuator for tactile feedback from the decorative component.

[0038] The actuator module advantageously comprises a control unit configured to communicate with the contact sensor and the oscillation actuator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Other aspects, purposes and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings do not necessarily adhere to the scale of all the elements represented, in order to improve their legibility, and from which it can be seen that:

[0040] Figure 1 shows an exploded view of an actuation housing according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 2 Shown according to Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a cover of an actuation housing of the illustrated embodiment;

[0042] Figure 3 Shown according to Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a container of the actuation housing of the illustrated embodiment;

[0043] Figure 4 Shown according to Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of an actuation housing of an embodiment of the present invention is shown integrated into a trim component of a vehicle passenger compartment;

[0044] Figure 5 Shown according to Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of an actuation housing of an embodiment of the present invention is shown integrated into a trim component of a vehicle passenger compartment;

[0045] Figure 6 A view showing an actuation housing according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is fixed to the back side of a trim component of a vehicle passenger compartment;

[0046] Figure 7 A view showing a front view of a trim component of a vehicle passenger compartment;

[0047] Figure 8 A view showing an actuator module according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] like Figure 1As shown, the actuation housing 100 according to the invention comprises a container 1 defining a housing 6 terminating at an insertion opening and a cover 2 configured to at least partially close the insertion opening and an oscillating actuator housed in the housing. The cover 2 and the container 1 are movably mounted to translate relative to each other in a displacement direction Dx.

[0049] exist Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the oscillation actuator 3 is an oscillation actuator 3 consisting of a fixed part 4, here a coil array fixed in the housing 6, and a movable part 5, here a magnet array fixed on the inner surface of the cover 2 and facing the housing 6. The cover 2 and the container 1 are fixed to each other, thereby allowing a translational movement of the cover 2 relative to the container. Therefore, during operation of the actuator 3, the coil array 4 is supplied with current and generates a magnetic field, which causes a translational movement of the magnet array 5. The magnet array 5 is fixed to the cover 2, and the latter generates a tactile vibration by a relative translational movement relative to the container 1. The tactile vibration is directly transmitted to the decorative part 7 of the passenger compartment fixed to the shell 100. According to Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the cover 2 is fixed to the trim part 7 of the passenger compartment, and the container 1 is fixed to a support of the vehicle body 8. Therefore, the tactile vibration is transmitted to the user via the trim part 7 of the passenger compartment.

[0050] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As can be seen in the figure, the cover 2 comprises a first elastic member 9 configured to abut against a first side wall 11 of the container 1 and a second elastic member 9' configured to abut against a second side wall 11' of the container 1 arranged on a side opposite to the first side wall 11. In the embodiment shown in the figure, these elastic members comprise lugs elastically deformable in the displacement direction Dx and allow a relative translational movement of the cover 2 relative to the container 1. According to a variant not shown, the cover comprises elastic means, such as lugs elastically deformable in the direction Dx, so as to allow a relative translational movement.

[0051] exist Figure 3 and Figure 5As can also be seen in the figure, the cover 2 comprises first fixing means configured to cooperate with complementary second fixing means provided on the container 1, for example a fixing tab 12 and a corresponding through hole 13, respectively, so as to retain the cover 2 on the container 1 in a vertical direction Dz extending along the height of the housing 6 and substantially perpendicular to the extension plane of the cover 2, while allowing a relative translational movement of the cover 2 relative to the container 1 in a displacement direction Dx. The through hole 13 is formed in a third side wall of the container 1 extending in a transverse direction Dy, and in a fourth side wall opposite this third side wall 14, the transverse direction extending substantially perpendicular to the displacement direction Dx in the extension plane of the cover 2. The fixing leg 12 is arranged on the cover 2 so that it can be clipped into the corresponding through hole 13. In order to be able to allow a translational movement in the displacement direction Dx, the transverse dimensions of the fixing leg 12 of the cover 2 are smaller than those of the through hole 13 of the container 1.

[0052] like Figure 5 As shown, the cover 2 includes a guide element 15, such as a column, which is configured to cooperate with the outer surface of the third side wall 14 and the fourth side wall 14' of the container 1 to ensure the guide of the relative translation movement of the cover 2 relative to the container 1 in the displacement direction Dx. Therefore, these guide elements 15 can prevent the cover 2 from moving relative to the container 1 in the lateral direction Dy perpendicular to the displacement direction Dx, so that the actuation housing 100 limits the oscillation movement of the oscillation actuator 3 in a single displacement direction Dx.

[0053] like Figure 1 and 3 As shown, the housing 6 of the container 1 has a substantially rectangular longitudinal cross section. The first and second side walls 11, 11' and the third and fourth side walls 14, 14' that delimit the housing 6 are parallel in pairs. Therefore, the guide element 15, the direction of the side walls 11, 14, the fixing legs 12 and the transverse opening 13 ensure the sliding of the cover 2 relative to the container 1 in the displacement direction Dx.

[0054] Likewise Figures 3 to 5 As shown, the housing 6 includes a first support area 16, which is intended to support the coil array 4 of the actuator 3. The housing 6 also includes a second support area 17 that deviates from the first support area 16 in the vertical direction Dz and is configured to receive the movable part 5 of the actuator 3 as a support portion. This configuration can produce an air gap e with a certain fixed thickness between the coil array 4 and the magnet array 5. The thickness of the air gap e is fixed, and the tactile vibration generated in the actuation housing 100 is standardized and facilitates calibration of the desired tactile feedback. According to an embodiment not shown, the coil array 4 is fixed on the cover 2, the magnet array 5 is fixed on the container 1, and the relative translational movement of the cover 2 relative to the container 1 in the displacement direction Dx remains unchanged.

[0055] According to another embodiment not shown, the oscillation actuator 3 is selected from an actuator 3 that generates oscillations in multiple directions, a linear motor actuator with a Halbach array (for example, as described in document WO2019 / 008021) or a rotary motor actuator 3, a blade actuator 3, or an actuator 3 of coil and electromagnet type.

[0056] In fact, the relative translational movement of the container 1 and the cover 2 is limited in the vertical direction Dz perpendicular to the extension plane of the cover 2. This can limit the movement of the multi-directional oscillating actuator 3 in one plane by preventing the movement of the cover 2 or the container 1 in the vertical direction Dz. In addition, the guide element 15 also prevents the relative movement of the cover 2 relative to the container 1 in the transverse direction Dy perpendicular to the displacement direction Dx. Therefore, the actuation housing 100 according to the present invention limits the oscillating movement of the oscillating actuator 3 in the displacement direction Dx to allow optimal tactile feedback.

[0057] In the case of an actuator 3 having a rotary motor (not shown), a fixed part 4 including the motor is fixed in a housing 6, and a movable part 5 constituted by an arm of the motor is fixed to the cover 2 and generates tactile vibrations.

[0058] When an actuator 3 with blades is used (not shown), the membrane including the blades is fixed to the cover 2. Depending on the application of electric current, the membrane is subjected to a force which causes compression or expansion, thereby generating micro-vibrations.

[0059] Figures 4 to 6 A first element is shown for fixing the container 1 to the body 8 of the vehicle by clipping, or attached spikes or alternatively by using adhesive foam glue according to a possibility not shown.

[0060] The second element 18 for fixing the cover 2 to the trim part of the passenger compartment is a clip element (in Figure 6 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the opening in the cover 2 is Figure 2 According to a variant not shown, the fixing is obtained by welding or by snap-fastening. It is understood in this document that tactile feedback is ensured due to the inherent play present in the vehicle passenger compartment to which the trim part 7 itself is fixed.

[0061] Figure 8An actuator module 200 according to a second aspect of the present invention is shown. As shown, the actuator module 200 includes a decorative part 7 of the passenger compartment, a contact sensor 19 (not visible) and an actuation housing 100 as described above, and its container 1 has the particularity of forming an integral part of the decorative part 7. This makes it possible to obtain compactness, lightness, and also facilitates the integration of the actuator 3 with tactile feedback in the passenger compartment. The cover 2 of the actuation housing 100 is movably mounted to translate on the wall of the housing 6 of the container 1 to allow relative translational movement in the displacement direction Dx relative to the decorative part 7. In addition, the cover 2 is fixed to a support of the vehicle body 8. So fixed, the container 1 or the decorative part 7 driven by the relative translational movement will produce tactile feedback. The coil array 4 is printed in the housing 6 on the back of the decorative part 7, and the magnet array 5 is fixed to the cover 2. The contact sensor 19 is a capacitive film placed on the back of the decorative part 7, such as Figure 7 As shown, the coil array 4 is printed thereon. According to an alternative not shown, the contact sensor 19 is a pressure sensor using a strain gauge. According to another variant not shown, the coil array 4 is fixed to the back of the decorative part.

[0062] According to another variant not shown, cover 2 of actuation housing 100 forms an integral part of trim 7. Container 1 is fixed to a support of vehicle body 8. The relatively movable mounting in translation along displacement direction Dx of container 1 and cover 2 allows tactile feedback via trim 7.

[0063] Thus, the present invention provides a low-cost actuator housing 100 that can be integrated into all vehicles regardless of their category. The development of high-end products including haptic feedback is facilitated because the dimensions are the same whether the housing is empty or completed with the actuator 3. In addition, the housing is standardized, the haptic vibrations produced exhibit the same haptic response characteristics, thereby reducing the time required for calibration operations, and the haptic response quality for a range of vehicles can be easily configured only by software control of the actuator. It is also easy to change the sensitivity of the haptic feedback obtained according to different ranges of vehicles equipped with such a housing.

[0064] An actuator module 200 in which the lid 2 or the container 1 forms an integral part of the decorative component 7 is more compact and lightweight.

[0065] It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of example, but it comprises all technical equivalents and variants of the means described and their combinations.

Claims

1. An actuation housing (100) for providing tactile feedback in a vehicle, the actuation housing comprising: - a container (1) comprising a housing (6) configured to accommodate an oscillation actuator (3) and an insertion opening formed into the housing (6), - a cover (2) configured to at least partially close an insertion opening of the container (1), the container (1) and the cover (2) being movably mounted for translation relative to each other and configured such that, when the oscillation actuator (3) is accommodated in the housing (6), oscillation of the oscillation actuator (3) generates a relative translation movement of the cover (2) relative to the container (1), thereby generating a tactile vibration in a displacement direction (Dx), The housing (6) comprises a first supporting area (16) and a second supporting area (17), wherein the first supporting area and the second supporting area are deviated in a vertical direction (Dz) extending along the height of the housing (6) and perpendicular to the extension plane of the cover (2), and the first supporting area (16) and the second supporting area (17) are constructed to respectively serve as supporting parts to receive a movable part (5) and a fixed part (4) of the actuator (3) that oscillate in a manner deviated in the vertical direction (Dz), thereby forming an air gap (e) of a predetermined thickness between the fixed part (4) and the movable part (5).

2. The actuation housing (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The cover (2) comprises a first elastic member (9) and a second elastic member (9'), wherein the first elastic member is configured to abut against a first side wall (11) of the container (1), and the second elastic member is configured to abut against a second side wall (11') of the container (1) which is arranged on a side opposite to the first side wall (11), so as to allow the cover (2) to perform relative translational movement relative to the container (1) in a displacement direction (Dx).

3. The actuation housing (100) according to claim 1, wherein: The container (1) comprises elastic means configured to allow a relative translational movement of the cover (2) relative to the container (1) in a displacement direction (Dx).

4. The actuation housing (100) according to claim 3, wherein: The elastic means is a lug that is elastically deformable in the displacement direction (Dx).

5. The actuation housing (100) according to claim 2, wherein: Each of the first elastic member (9) and the second elastic member (9') comprises a tab elastically deformable in a displacement direction (Dx).

6. The actuation housing (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The cover (2) comprises a first fixing device, which is configured to cooperate with a complementary second fixing device provided on the container (1), and the first fixing device and the complementary second fixing device are configured to hold the cover (2) on the container (1) in a vertical direction (Dz) along the height of the shell (6) and perpendicular to the extension plane of the cover (2), so as to allow the cover (2) to move relative to the container (1) in a displacement direction (Dx).

7. The actuation housing (100) according to claim 6, wherein: The first fixing means comprises a fixing leg (12), and the complementary second fixing means comprises a through hole (13) formed in a third side wall (14) of the container (1) and in a fourth side wall (14') opposite to the third side wall (14), the fixing leg (12) and the through hole (13) being configured to allow clamping between the cover (2) and the container (1) and to hold the cover (2) on the container (1) in a vertical direction (Dz).

8. The actuation housing (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The cover (2) comprises guiding elements (15) which are configured to cooperate with the outer surfaces of a third side wall (14) and a fourth side wall (14') of the container (1) extending in a transverse direction (Dy) so as to ensure the guidance of the relative translational movement of the cover (2) relative to the container (1) in a displacement direction (Dx), wherein the transverse direction extends perpendicularly to the displacement direction (Dx) in the extension plane of the cover (2).

9. The actuation housing (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The cover (2) and / or the container (1) comprises a first fixing element configured to fix the actuating housing (100) to a body (8) of a vehicle and a second fixing element (18) configured to fix the actuating housing (100) to a decorative component (7) of a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

10. An actuator module (200) with haptic feedback, intended to be integrated into a vehicle passenger compartment, the actuator module (200) with haptic feedback comprising: An actuation housing (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and An oscillating actuator (3) is housed in the housing (6) so as to generate tactile vibrations in a displacement direction (Dx).

11. An actuator module (200) with tactile feedback according to claim 10, comprising a decorative part (7) of the vehicle passenger compartment, and one of the container (1) or the cover (2) of the actuation housing (100) forms an integral part of the decorative part (7), the other of the container (1) or the cover (2) being intended to be fixed to a support of the body (8) of the vehicle.

12. The actuator module (200) with tactile feedback according to claim 11, wherein: The oscillating actuator (3) comprises: - movable parts (5), and - a fixing part (4), said container (1) forming an integral part of the back of a decorative part (7), and said cover (2) being intended to be fixed to a support of the body (8) of said vehicle.

13. The actuator module (200) with tactile feedback according to claim 12, wherein: The movable part (5) is a magnet array fixed to the cover (2), and the fixed part (4) is a coil array fixed on the container (1).

14. The actuator module (200) with tactile feedback according to claim 12, wherein: The movable component (5) is a magnet array fixed to the lid (2), and the fixed component (4) is a coil array printed on the container (1).

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