Control box for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a control unit (10) for a motor vehicle, the unit comprising: - a housing (11) equipped with a plurality of control zones (110), each of the control zones (110) being assigned to a specific function of the motor vehicle, - a printed circuit board (14) carrying a plurality of elementary sensors (200) configured to generate an electrical signal in response to an action such as a proximity movement, a contact or a press exerted by a user with his finger on at least one of the control zones (110), the elementary sensors (200) being connected to an electronic control unit (140), the electrical signal generated by the elementary sensors (200) being transmitted to the electronic control unit (140) for analysis in the electronic control unit and conversion into a command for a function of the vehicle, wherein each of the elementary sensors (200) comprises at least one insulating substrate (210) on which are deposited electrically conductive tracks (221, 222) forming a capacitive sensor and an assembly (230) of electrically conductive or semi-conductive nanoparticles in a colloidal suspension in an electrically insulating ligand, the assembly (230) forming a force sensor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control box for a motor vehicle, which is intended to control several functions of the vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] The passenger compartment of a motor vehicle constitutes the place where users (driver and any passengers) ride and interact with controls, making it possible to monitor the vehicle's functions; these functions are diverse in nature and may in particular involve the opening and closing of vehicle doors, the orientation of side mirrors, and the opening and closing of windows mounted on the vehicle's side doors. Controls that typically appear inside a vehicle and constitute the interface for monitoring the vehicle's functions are particularly of the following types:

[0003] - Buttons, for example, for controlling vehicle locks.

[0004] - Knobs, for example, used to control the temperature regulation of an air conditioning system;

[0005] - Joystick buttons, for example, used to control the window opening / closing mechanism.

[0006] - Triggers, for example, used to control door opening mechanisms.

[0007] - A slider, for example, used to control the temperature regulation of an air conditioning system.

[0008] Therefore, the vehicle passenger compartment is equipped with numerous control components. These control components, such as buttons and sliders, are mechanical or electromechanical. In this respect, these control components are relatively expensive, and on the other hand, they impose significant installation constraints within the vehicle passenger compartment, as they can only be positioned where their mechanisms are allowed to reside. This last constraint greatly reduces the design freedom of the passenger compartment, because the installation of these components is dictated not by ergonomic considerations but by mechanical constraints that may conflict with ergonomic principles.

[0009] In this technical context, document EP 1978535 B1 has proposed a control box for motor vehicles that houses several control components. This control box is advantageously mounted on the door armrest of the vehicle. However, even though the control box described in this prior art allows for a reduction in the number of control components, its operation requires, from the user's perspective, to perform a complex series of operations combining long and short presses using the user's fingers to execute a specific function. This constraint arises from the use of a capacitive sensor within the control box, which can only detect the duration of contact on the control components, rather than the intensity of that contact.

[0010] Therefore, one of the objectives of this invention is to provide a control box for a motor vehicle that does not have the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0011] Therefore, the present invention relates to a control box for a motor vehicle, comprising:

[0012] - An outer casing, wherein the outer casing is provided with a plurality of control areas, each of the control areas being assigned to a specific function of the motor vehicle.

[0013] - A printed circuit board supporting a plurality of basic sensors configured to generate electrical signals in response to actions such as proximity movement, contact, or pressure applied by a user with their finger to at least one of the control areas. The basic sensors are connected to an electronic control unit (ECU), and the electrical signals generated by the basic sensors are transmitted to the ECU for analysis and conversion into control of vehicle functions. Each of the basic sensors includes at least one insulating substrate on which conductive tracks for a capacitive sensor and an assembly of conductive or semi-conductive nanoparticles in a colloidal suspension in an electrically insulating ligand are deposited, the assembly forming a force sensor.

[0014] With this configuration, the control box of the present invention enables a wide range of operations within a motor vehicle by combining a capacitive sensor that allows for remote or contact detection with a force sensor that allows for the measurement of the strength of contact on one of the control areas of the control box.

[0015] According to other features, the housing of the present invention may include one or more of the following optional features, considered individually or in combination;

[0016] - At least one of the control areas forms a protrusion on the upper surface of the housing for a user's finger to rest on, and the at least one control area is configured to be connected to one of the basic sensors such that pressing the at least one control area causes deformation of the basic sensor, the deformation being detectable by the force sensor of the basic sensor.

[0017] The control box also includes multiple light-emitting devices, each of which is capable of emitting a light beam in the direction of the housing at the level of the control area.

[0018] - The light-emitting device is fixed on the printed circuit board and positioned below the basic sensor.

[0019] - Each light-emitting device consists of a light-emitting diode and / or a light guide.

[0020] The light-emitting device is controlled by the ECU, which changes the light beam emitted by the light-emitting device according to the electrical signal transmitted by the basic sensor.

[0021] - The control area is of at least two types, namely, a first control area and a second control area, the first control area being referred to as a selection area, which is intended for selecting a specific element of the vehicle, and the second control area being referred to as an adjustment area, which is intended for adjusting the position or state of the specific element of the vehicle previously selected by one of the selection areas.

[0022] The control box includes four selection areas and two adjustment areas. The four selection areas are referred to as window selection areas, which are respectively assigned to select the windows of the vehicle, namely the left front window, right front window, left rear window and right rear window. The two adjustment areas are referred to as window adjustment areas, which allow the windows selected by the window selection areas to be moved downward and upward, respectively.

[0023] - A basic sensor disposed below the window selection area is configured to detect the contact of a user's finger on the window selection area by means of its capacitive sensor, and is characterized in that a basic sensor disposed below the window adjustment area is configured to detect the pressure of the user's finger on the window adjustment area by means of its force sensor.

[0024] The basic sensor is printed on a film inserted between the housing and the light-emitting device present on the top of the printed circuit board.

[0025] The control box includes two selection areas and four adjustment areas. The two selection areas are referred to as the mirror selection areas, which are respectively assigned to select the mirrors of the vehicle, namely the left mirror and the right mirror. The four adjustment areas are referred to as the mirror adjustment areas, which allow the mirror selected by the mirror selection areas to be moved to the left, right, down, and up, respectively.

[0026] - A basic sensor positioned below the viewing mirror selection area and the viewing mirror adjustment area is configured to detect contact of the user's finger on the viewing mirror selection area and the viewing mirror adjustment area respectively by means of its capacitive sensor.

[0027] The control box includes two control areas, referred to as the locking / unlocking areas, which allow the doors of the vehicle to be locked and unlocked respectively.

[0028] The control box includes at least one basic sensor configured to detect the presence of a user's finger near the control box. The ECU is capable of switching at least some of the basic sensors from a deactivated mode, insensitive to the user's actions, to an activated mode, sensitive to the user's actions, in response to a signal transmitted by the at least one basic sensor.

[0029] The control box includes at least one basic sensor configured to detect contact of a user's finger on a specific control area of ​​the control box by means of its capacitive sensor. The ECU is capable of switching some of the basic sensors from a partially active mode in which they can only detect the contact of the user's finger by means of the capacitive sensors of some of the basic sensors to a deactivated mode in which they are insensitive to the user's actions, and switching some other basic sensors from a deactivated mode in which they are insensitive to the user's actions to a partially active mode in which they can only detect the pressure from the user's finger by means of the force sensors of the other basic sensors.

[0030] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle including a control box as defined above. Attached Figure Description

[0031] The present invention is described below without limitation, according to several preferred embodiments and with reference to Figures 1 to 12 Describe the following, including:

[0032] Figure 1 This is an exploded perspective view of the control box according to the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the control box;

[0034] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Front view of the control box;

[0035] Figure 4 This is a top view of a basic sensor according to the first embodiment that can be used in the context of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the sensor along section line AA;

[0037] Figure 6 It is similar to Figure 5 However, this is a view based on a second embodiment of the basic sensor that can be used within the context of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 7A This is a cross-sectional view of a basic sensor according to another embodiment during proximity detection;

[0039] Figure 7B It is similar to detecting touch. Figure 7A The view.

[0040] Figure 7C It means freedom Figure 7A and Figure 7B The time evolution of the signal from the basic sensor formed by the force sensor;

[0041] Figure 7D It means freedom Figure 7A and Figure 7B The time evolution of the signal from the basic sensor formed by the capacitive sensor;

[0042] Figure 8 An exemplary embodiment of a touch-sensitive surface that can be combined with multiple basic sensors in the context of the present invention is shown in an exploded top view.

[0043] Figure 9 A flowchart illustrating an example of a method for implementing a basic sensor that can be used in the context of this invention is shown;

[0044] Figure 10 This is an example of a flowchart illustrating a method for implementing a touch-sensitive surface that integrates a basic sensor usable in the context of this invention;

[0045] Figure 11 The diagram illustrates the change in voltage delivered over time by a force sensor comprising an assembly of nanoparticles, the conductivity of which varies according to the force applied to the sensor.

[0046] Figure 12 The diagram shows the displacement curve of a vehicle's window in response to pressure applied to a basic sensor, which can be used in the context of this invention.

[0047] The attached diagram is a schematic representation and does not show the proportions of the various components represented. Detailed Implementation

[0048] refer to Figures 1 to 3 , indicating an embodiment of the control box according to the present invention.

[0049] In this embodiment, the control box 10 includes:

[0050] - Housing 11, which is provided with a plurality of control areas 110, each of which is assigned to a specific function of the motor vehicle.

[0051] - Sheet 12, which is touch-sensitive and supports a plurality of basic sensors 200, is disposed beneath housing 11 such that each of the basic sensors 200 is connected to one of the control areas 110.

[0052] - Intermediate element 13, which is designed to generate light in the direction of the housing, and

[0053] - Printed circuit board 14, which supports intermediate element 13 and sheet 12 on its upper surface and supports electronic element 140 forming electronic control unit (ECU) on its lower surface.

[0054] The control box 10 is specifically used for opening and closing side windows, locking and unlocking doors, and for orienting side mirrors. For example, the control box can be integrated into the driver's armrest, making it easy for the driver to operate.

[0055] The outer casing 11 will advantageously be formed of a thermoplastic material. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the control area 110 defines a recess and / or a protrusion on the upper outer surface of the housing 11, the size of which is set to accommodate the user's finger.

[0056] The sheet 12 disposed under the housing 11 is composed of an insulating support 121 on which conductive tracks 122 are printed, and the conductive tracks 122 are electrically connected to the basic sensor 200 and the ECU.

[0057] Intermediate element 13 includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 130 and a plurality of light guides 131. Each LED 130 is advantageously aligned with one of the regions 110 of the housing 11 and one of the light guides 131 in a direction perpendicular to the plane P defined by plate 14. The LEDs 130 are also electrically connected to an ECU, such that the ECU can control the activation or deactivation of the LEDs 130 according to a control area 110 activated by a user. Figure 2 As shown, the light guide 131 advantageously has a protruding profile that is substantially complementary to the profile of the control region 110, so as to facilitate the assembly of the control box 10.

[0058] The printed circuit board 14 is specifically composed of a support member 141 on which the electronic component 140 is fastened. The support member 141 may be formed of a rigid thermoplastic material.

[0059] Figure 3This describes the distribution of control areas 110 within the housing 11. For ease of use of the control box 10, each control area 110 advantageously has a specific shape different from the others, allowing the user to easily identify the control area by touch without looking at the control box 10. Furthermore, to optimize the ergonomic design of the control box 10, the control areas 110 are positioned so that they can be easily and quickly operated by the user's fingers. Thus, by moving the user's fingers in the lower portion of the control box 10, the user will be able to access two control areas 111a, 111b arranged side-by-side in the width direction, each of which has a substantially trapezoidal shape, and is inclined relative to plane P, forming a recess on the surface of the housing 11. By moving a user's finger within the central portion of the control box 10, the user can access four disc-shaped control areas 112a, 112b, 112c, and 112d. Control areas 112a to 112d are positioned on the surface of the housing 11 to define a square pattern together. Control areas 112a to 112d can simply be flush with the surface of the housing 11. Two control areas 113a and 113b, connected in the longitudinal direction, are also positioned within the square defined by control areas 112a to 112d. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, each of the control areas 113a and 113b has a rectangular shape and forms a recess on the surface of the housing 11. The middle portion of the control box 10 also accommodates two control areas 114a and 114b, which have rectangular shapes and are arranged side by side in the width direction, and the control areas 114a and 114b form protrusions on the surface of the housing 11. Finally, by moving the user's finger in the upper portion of the control box 10, the user will be able to access four trapezoidal control areas 115a, 115b, 115c, and 115d, which are inclined about plane P and form recesses on the surface of the housing 11. Control areas 112a to 112d are disposed on the surface of the housing 11 to define a pyramidal pattern together.

[0060] Each control area is pre-assigned to one or more specific functions, one or more of which are performed once the control area is activated by the user by touching it with their finger or by moving sufficiently close to the control area to modify the electrostatic capacitance of the basic sensor 200, as explained in detail in the following paragraphs. Thus, each of the basic sensors 200 will advantageously include at least one insulating substrate on which conductive tracks forming a capacitive sensor and assemblies of conductive or semi-conductive nanoparticles in a colloidal suspension in an electrically insulating ligand are deposited, said assemblies forming a force sensor. This advantageous configuration will be described in particular in detail in the following paragraphs.

[0061] Control areas can be classified into at least two types. The first type, also known as selection areas, is designed for selecting specific components of the vehicle, and the second type, also known as adjustment areas, is designed for adjusting the position or state of specific components of the vehicle previously selected by one of the selection areas.

[0062] Therefore, in Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the control box 10 clearly includes four selection areas, namely four control areas 112a to 112d. Control areas 112a to 112d can be specifically assigned, for example, to the selection of vehicle windows, namely the left front window for control area 112a, the right front window for control area 112b, the left rear window for control area 112c, and the right rear window for control area 112d. These selection areas 112a to 112d, also known as window selection areas, must first be activated by the user to select the vehicle window that the user wishes to raise or lower. Once this selection is made, the user must actuate one or the other of control areas 113a and 113b, also known as window adjustment areas, to shift the window selected by the window selection areas 112a to 112d downwards and upwards, respectively. For this purpose, the basic sensor 200, directly disposed below the window selection areas 112a to 112d, is advantageously configured to detect the contact of a user's finger on the window selection areas 112a to 112d by means of its capacitive sensor. Once this contact is detected, the ECU will be able to deactivate all control areas 110 of the control box 10, except for the control areas corresponding to the window adjustment areas, i.e., control areas 113a and 113b. The user can then apply their finger to one of the window adjustment areas 113a and 113b to lower or raise the window previously selected by the window selection areas 112a to 112d. For this purpose, the basic sensor 200, directly disposed below the window adjustment areas 113a and 113b, is advantageously configured to detect the pressure of the user's finger on the window adjustment areas 113a and 113b by means of its force sensor.

[0063] Figure 3The control box 10 also includes two additional selection areas, namely control areas 114a and 114b, which can be assigned to select vehicle side mirrors, specifically the left side mirror for control area 114a and the right side mirror for control area 114b. These selection areas 114a and 114b, also known as side mirror selection areas, must first be activated by the user to select the side mirror of the vehicle that the user wishes to move. Once this selection is made, the user must actuate one or the other of control areas 115a to 115d, also known as side mirror adjustment areas, to move the side mirror selected by the side mirror selection areas 114a and 114b to the left via area 115a, to the right via area 115b, to the down via area 115c, and to the up via area 115d. For this purpose, the basic sensor 200, directly positioned below the mirror selection areas 114a and 114b, is advantageously configured to detect the user's finger contact on the mirror selection areas 114a and 114b using its capacitive sensor. Once this contact is detected, the ECU is able to deactivate all control areas 110 of the control box 10, except for the control areas corresponding to the mirror adjustment areas, i.e., control areas 115a to 115d. The user can then apply their finger to one of the mirror adjustment areas 115a to 115d to move the mirror previously selected by the mirror selection areas 114a and 114b to the left or right, down or up. For this purpose, the basic sensor 200, directly positioned below the mirror adjustment areas 115a to 115d, is advantageously configured to detect the user's finger contact on the mirror adjustment areas 115a to 115d using its capacitive sensor.

[0064] Figure 3 The control box 10 also includes two control areas 111a and 111b, also known as locking / unlocking areas, which allow the vehicle doors to be locked and unlocked separately. For this purpose, a basic sensor 200, directly disposed beneath the locking / unlocking areas 111a and 111b, is advantageously configured to detect contact of a user's finger on the locking / unlocking areas by means of its capacitive sensor.

[0065] Generally speaking, the control box 10 of the present invention may include a ratio of Figure 3 This may refer to a greater or lesser number of control areas 110. Furthermore, the distribution, shape, and assigned functions of the control areas 110 may differ from those previously described.

[0066] All possible variations of the control box 10 of the present invention will preferably operate according to the principle of selective activation / deactivation of some control areas 110, based on signals received by the ECU from the basic sensor 200. The control areas 110 activated by the ECU can advantageously be backlit by means of light-emitting diodes 130 and associated light guides 131 located directly below the control areas 110, thereby allowing the user to know which control areas 110 have actually been activated by the ECU.

[0067] The control box 10 of the present invention will preferably include at least one specific basic sensor 200 configured to detect the presence of a user's finger near the control box. The ECU is capable of switching at least some of the basic sensors 200 from a deactivated mode (insensitive to user actions) to an activated mode (sensitive to user actions) in response to signals transmitted by the at least one specific basic sensor 200. In a possible variation of the invention, this detection will be performed using a capacitive sensor of the at least one specific basic sensor 200. In another possible variation of the invention, all the basic sensors 200 of the control box 10, except for the specific basic sensor, may initially be in a deactivated mode, in which the basic sensors are insensitive to user actions. After activating the specific basic sensor, the ECU will be able to switch some of the basic sensors 200 of the control box 10 from the deactivated mode to a fully activated mode or a partially activated mode. In the fully activated mode, the basic sensor is sensitive to both remote and contact actions by the user. In the partially activated mode, the basic sensor is sensitive only to user touch.

[0068] In a complementary approach, the control box 10 may further include at least one specific basic sensor 200 configured to detect contact of a user's finger on a specific control area 110 of the control box by means of its capacitive sensor. The ECU is capable of switching some of the basic sensors 200 from a partially active mode in which they can only detect contact of the user's finger by means of their capacitive sensors to a deactivated mode in which they are insensitive to the user's actions, and switching some other basic sensors 200 from a deactivated mode in which they are insensitive to the user's actions to a partially active mode in which they can only detect pressure from the user's finger by means of their force sensors.

[0069] Therefore, in Figure 3In the specific embodiment shown, window selection areas 112a to 112d and mirror selection areas 114a, 114b can initially be in a partially active mode. In this partially active mode, the window selection areas and mirror selection areas can detect the contact of the user's finger using their capacitive sensors 221, 222, while the window adjustment areas 113a, 113b and mirror adjustment areas 115a to 115d are initially deactivated. Therefore, when the user activates one of the selection areas with their finger, if the area pressed by the user is one of areas 112a, 112d or one of adjustment areas 115a to 115d, and if the area pressed by the user is one of areas 114a, 114b, the ECU will, in response to the signal received from the basic sensor 200 corresponding to the area pressed by the user, deactivate all selection areas 112a to 112d and 114a, 114b and partially activate adjustment areas 113a, 113b. In this partially activated mode, window adjustment areas 113a and 113b will be sensitive only to pressure applied by the user's fingers, which can be measured by force sensors 230 of the basic sensor 200 positioned directly below the window adjustment areas 113a and 113b. Similarly, mirror adjustment areas 115a to 115d will be sensitive only to contact by the user's fingers, which can be detected by capacitive sensors 221 and 222 of the basic sensor 200 positioned directly below the mirror adjustment areas 115a to 115d. The pressure or contact detected by the force sensors 230 or capacitive sensors 221 and 222 will then be transmitted as an electrical signal to the ECU, which can monitor the displacement of the window or mirror previously selected by the user using the selection area based on the electrical signals received from the force sensors or capacitive sensors. Therefore, greater or lesser pressure on the window adjustment areas 113a and 113b will result in more or less significant displacement of the window.

[0070] refer to Figure 12 This illustrates an example of a vehicle window displacement curve in response to pressure applied to a basic sensor 200, which is applicable in the context of this invention. In this example, if a user presses one of the adjustment areas 113a and 113b with a pressure below a first threshold P1, the window does not displace. If the user presses the adjustment areas 113a and 113b more forcefully, such that the applied pressure is greater than the first threshold P1 but less than a second threshold P2, the window gradually moves until it reaches its lowest or highest limit position. When the user presses the adjustment areas 113a and 113b forcefully, such that the applied pressure is greater than the second threshold P2, the window moves rapidly toward its lowest or highest limit position.

[0071] Figure 4An exemplary embodiment of a basic sensor 200 that can be used in the control box of the present invention is shown. The basic sensor 200 includes an insulating substrate 210 on which concentric conductive tracks 221, 222 constituting a capacitive sensor are deposited using techniques known from the prior art.

[0072] According to an exemplary embodiment, the insulating substrate 210 is a polymer, such as polyimide or PET, or ceramic.

[0073] The concentric tracks 221 and 222 are made of, for example, copper or ITO (In2O3-SnO2) to produce transparent sensors or any other conductive material.

[0074] These concentric orbits are deposited, for example, by photolithography or soft photolithography.

[0075] The assembly of nanoparticles constituting the force sensor is deposited in the center of the sensor.

[0076] According to an exemplary embodiment suitable for generating a transparent sensor, the nanoparticles are ITO nanoparticles in a colloidal suspension in an insulating ligand, such as (aminomethyl)phosphonic acid (CH6NO3P).

[0077] According to other exemplary embodiments, the nanoparticles are zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles or gold (Au) nanoparticles.

[0078] The nanoparticle assembly 230 is a single-layer or multi-layer assembly, deposited on a substrate, for example by convection capillary deposition or by a so-called “droplet evaporation” method as described in document EP 2 877 911, and these examples are neither exhaustive nor limiting.

[0079] The nanoparticle assembly 230 is closely associated with the substrate 210, for example, through a chemical coupling agent.

[0080] For example, the chemical coupling agent is silane (SiH4), which can interact with OH groups on the surface of a substrate previously activated by UV ozone treatment, and includes a carboxyl group (COOH) at the other end of the coupling agent that can be grafted onto the amine group (NH2) previously grafted onto the surface of the nanoparticles.

[0081] The nanoparticle assembly 230 constitutes a strain gauge, the conductivity of which varies depending on the relative distance between the nanoparticles in the assembly.

[0082] This change in conductivity, or conversely, the change in resistance, is attributed to conduction occurring through a tunneling effect between nanoparticles, and this effect provides a very high strain coefficient, far exceeding the values ​​obtainable with piezoresistive films, which makes it possible to measure very small deformations.

[0083] For example, the proportional change in resistance of such a basic force sensor, composed of assemblies of ITO nanoparticles in phosphonic acid-based ligands, indicates an exponential evolution of the response to deformation experienced by the basic sensor, where, in the absence of deformation, at 2000.10... 3 At resistance in the order of ohms, the strain coefficient reaches a value of 85 over a deformation range from -1% (compression) to +1% (tension).

[0084] Therefore, this basic force sensor is highly sensitive and can detect pressing or touching forces applied to the sensor, even if the force is relatively weak, thus enabling it to form its own test body. In other words, deformation of the substrate does not require the detection of the applied force, and Figure 4 The arrangement can be generated on a rigid substrate (such as silicon dioxide (SiO2) or silicon nitride (Si3N4)) while allowing the measurement of the force applied to the sensor.

[0085] refer to Figure 11 This illustrates an example of the change in voltage 102 transmitted by such a basic force sensor over time 101 when a force (e.g., touch) is applied to the sensor. According to this example, a touch is applied between times t0 and t1. The strength of the force is proportional to the difference between V1 and V0, where value V1 is measurable and value V0 depends on environmental factors and is likely to change over time, particularly with temperature.

[0086] The conductive track 240 shown in this paper is also deposited on the substrate 210 according to the principle, allowing power to be supplied from the capacitive sensor and the force sensor and data to be collected.

[0087] according to Figure 5 In the first embodiment shown, the protective layer 310 is composed of an insulating material (e.g., polyimide or PET) to produce a transparent sensor and is deposited on the sensor thus produced.

[0088] According to the first embodiment, the combined basic sensor 200 has a diameter between 10 mm and 30 mm and a thickness between 50 μm and 300 μm, and these values ​​are not limiting.

[0089] according to Figure 6 In the second embodiment, the combined basic sensor 200 is generated in two layers 401 and 402. According to this second embodiment, the first layer 401 includes a substrate 2011 and a protective layer 3101. According to the same technique as explained above, the force sensor 230 is deposited on the substrate, and superimposed on the first layer 401 is the second layer 402, which includes a substrate 2102. Conductive tracks 221 and 222 forming the capacitive sensor are deposited on the substrate.

[0090] The protective layer 3102 is placed on the capacitive sensor.

[0091] according to Figure 7A and Figure 7B In the illustrated embodiment, the basic sensor 200 is attached to one side of an insulating substrate 510, the opposite side 511 of which is exposed to touch.

[0092] Therefore, the surface 511 of the substrate 510 is functionalized to enable the detection of touches on the surface and the measurement of the force applied to the touch.

[0093] According to a non-limiting example of the embodiment, the substrate 510 may be composed of a polymer, glass, ceramic, leather, or wood. The sensitivity of the force sensor allows for the detection of slight deformations, and therefore, even if the substrate is relatively rigid, touch force can be detected and measured.

[0094] like Figure 7A As shown, when a conductive object (e.g., a finger 500) approaches surface 511 and is thus functionalized, the presence of the conductive object is detected at time t0, even before contact occurs, as long as the conductive object is at a distance less than or equal to the minimum distance 590 from the capacitive sensor.

[0095] The minimum distance 590 can be adjusted according to the characteristics of the sensor and a threshold defined on the signal delivered by the capacitive sensor.

[0096] For example, depending on the intended application, select the minimum distance at any value included between 0 and 10 mm.

[0097] For this purpose, the sensor is connected to electronic circuitry capable of performing these functions and the steps of the methods described below.

[0098] Therefore, at time t0, as Figure 7D As shown, by observing the value of the signal 522 delivered by the capacitive sensor as it changes over time 501, the information item 523 delivered by the sensor exceeds the threshold C0 corresponding to the intersection with the minimum distance 590. Then, once the object 500 comes into contact with the surface, the information item delivered by the capacitive sensor changes neither much nor little, even with an increase in applied pressure.

[0099] Back Figure 11 When the approach of object 500 is detected, the value V0 delivered by the force sensor at time t0 is measured and used as a reference value by making the force equal to zero, since there is no contact. Figure 7C As shown, it represents the value 502 of the signal 503 delivered by the force sensor, which changes over time 501 and is modified through processing.

[0100] Therefore, it compensates for any drift in the information delivered by the force sensor (especially due to temperature changes).

[0101] like Figure 7B As shown, when object 500 contacts functionalized surface 511 and a tactile force is applied thereon, the conductivity of the force sensor is modified proportionally to the applied force, and as... Figure 7C As shown, it delivers information item V1, which corresponds to the force proportional to V1-V0, corrected by the initial drift value V0 of the force sensor 230.

[0102] When the touch pressure is released at time t1, for a short period of time (t1+e) after that release, the distance between object 500 and surface 511 is greater than or equal to the minimum distance 590, and, as Figure 7D As shown, the information item delivered by the capacitive sensor exceeds the threshold C0 in the opposite direction.

[0103] When the capacitance sensor detects a value exceeding the threshold C0, the information item delivered by the force sensor is considered equal to 0. This also masks the fact that the delay caused by hysteresis in the information item delivered by the force sensor returns to 0.

[0104] Therefore, the combined use of force sensors and capacitive sensors overcomes the inherent drift and hysteresis phenomena in this type of force sensor and, as Figure 11 The diagram shows that the applied force can be measured, and an action can be triggered as needed based on the magnitude of that force.

[0105] Figure 7A and Figure 7B Indicates according to Figure 5 The sensor combination of the first embodiment shown will be understood by those skilled in the art to be applicable to the same principle. Figure 6 The second embodiment illustrates the combination of sensors.

[0106] refer to Figure 8 Multiple basic sensors 200 are associated in a grid to form a touch-sensitive surface capable of detecting touch, its position on the grid, and applied pressure.

[0107] Figure 8 Indicates according to Figure 6 The illustrated embodiment combines multiple sensors. Those skilled in the art will be able to apply this principle to... Figure 5 An embodiment of the basic sensor 200 is shown.

[0108] The touch-sensitive surface includes a substrate 610 made of an electrically insulating material and includes a surface exposed to touch.

[0109] A first layer 620 is attached to the surface opposite the touch surface exposed to the substrate 610. This first layer includes a grid of capacitive sensors 625, such as... Figure 6 The upper layer 402.

[0110] Below the layer 620 carrying the grid of the capacitive sensor is a layer 630, which includes a force sensor grid 635 composed of assemblies of nanoparticles, such as... Figure 6 The lower level 401.

[0111] According to a first exemplary embodiment (not shown), the number of force sensors 635 is equal to the number of capacitive sensors 625, and the force sensors are located at the center with respect to the capacitive sensors.

[0112] Advantageously, the number of force sensors 635 is reduced relative to the number of capacitive sensors 625, and the force sensors are located at the center or not at the center relative to the capacitive sensors.

[0113] This embodiment, which uses a reduced number of force sensors, is more economical.

[0114] In practice, according to variations of the implementation, regardless of the point of application of the resulting touch force on the touch-sensitive surface, the touch force is evaluated if the point of application is known, and the touch force is inferred from the signal delivered by one of the force sensors, for example, the one closest to the point of application, or by combining the information delivered by several of these sensors (at least three force sensors for a flat touch-sensitive surface).

[0115] The location of the point of application of touch on the touch-sensitive surface is obtained from the grid of the capacitive sensor 625.

[0116] This principle remains valid even in cases with multiple contact points.

[0117] This embodiment enables the production of touch-sensitive surfaces including high-density capacitive sensors, which are more economical to manufacture than force sensors, and thereby obtains precise positioning of the point of application of the touch. The force applied during these touches is then evaluated by appropriately processing the information delivered by a reduced number of force sensors 635 with more expensive construction, based on the location of the point of application of the touch.

[0118] The method remains unchanged, namely, once the approach of a conductive object is detected at a distance less than or equal to a minimum distance of 590 from one of the capacitive sensors, the value V0 delivered by each of the force sensors is measured to readjust the information item delivered by each of the sensors. The applied force is determined by combining information from the force sensors that varies with the position of the point of application of the force given by the network capacitive sensors. Then, when the object moves away from the touch-sensitive surface at a distance greater than or equal to the minimum distance, the force is reset to 0.

[0119] Those skilled in the art will understand that using a reduced number of force sensors compared to capacitive sensors is suitable for touch-sensitive surfaces with shapes other than flat, such as surfaces with single or double curvature, provided that such a form is stable.

[0120] For flexible touch-sensitive surfaces with variable shapes, such as those applied to clothing, embodiments comprising multiple force sensors equivalent to and centered relative to a capacitive sensor are preferred.

[0121] Therefore, the device described above offers a wide variety of application possibilities in its variations.

[0122] like Figure 9 As shown, an embodiment of a method for detecting and measuring the intensity of a touch force exerted by a conductive object 500 on a touch-sensitive surface including the basic sensor 200 described above, regardless of its embodiment, includes reading a signal from a capacitive sensor according to a defined frequency or time interval 710 and comparing the value of the signal read therefrom with a defined value C0 representing the minimum distance between the object and the capacitive sensor 715.

[0123] According to this exemplary embodiment, and referring to Figure 7A and Figure 7D When the distance is less than or equal to the minimum distance, the signal delivered by the capacitive sensor is greater than or equal to the value C0.

[0124] In case 716, where the signal delivered by the capacitive sensor remains below C0, no other action is triggered, and signal scanning continues at a given frequency or at a given time interval.

[0125] In case 717, when the signal delivered by the capacitive sensor exceeds the threshold C0 and thus an object approaches the sensor, during the initialization step of the force sensor, the value delivered by the force sensor is read 720, and during the drift determination step 730, the value V0 thus read is used as a reference value.

[0126] As long as the object is in contact with the touch-sensitive surface, a force is applied relative to the reference measurement. To this end, the signal output from the capacitive sensor is compared 735 with a value C0 corresponding to the minimum distance, and as long as 737 the value delivered by the sensor remains greater than the value C0, the signal from the force sensor is measured 740, and during the reset step 750, the signal is reset with respect to the value V0 determined during the drift determination step 730 in the same acquisition sequence.

[0127] In the case of basic sensor 200 Figure 9 The described method extends to the case of a touch-sensitive surface that includes as many basic sensors as possible, wherein the additional steps include locating the detected proximity position on the grid of capacitive sensors, and, based on the information item, applying steps of reading the delivered information item 720, measuring drift 730, measuring the applied force 740, and resetting 750 to the force sensor of the capacitive sensor closest to the detected touch.

[0128] like Figure 10 As shown, in the case where the touch-sensitive surface includes a significantly larger density of capacitive sensors compared to the number of force sensors, during the scanning step 810, information delivered by the capacitive sensors is detected at regular time intervals, and the information item delivered by each sensor is compared with C0 corresponding to the minimum distance threshold 815.

[0129] When the threshold 817 is exceeded on one of the sensors, the position of the activated capacitive sensor is determined during positioning step 820.

[0130] During the drift determination step 830, an information item delivered by each of the force sensors is read, and the information item is assigned 840 to each of the corresponding force sensors as a reset value.

[0131] Throughout the touch 847, 850 information items from the force sensor are acquired, and each sensor is reset 860 according to the value evaluated during the drift determination step 830.

[0132] Then, based on the point of application of the force determined during positioning step 820, the force applied to the point of consideration by 870 is evaluated by combining information items from the force sensor.

Claims

1. A control box (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising: - A housing (11) having a plurality of control areas (110), each of which is assigned to a specific function of the motor vehicle. - A printed circuit board (14) supporting a plurality of basic sensors (200) configured to generate electrical signals in response to actions such as proximity movement, contact, or pressure applied by a user with their finger to at least one of the control area (110). The basic sensors (200) are connected to an electronic control unit (140), and the electrical signals generated by the basic sensors (200) are transmitted to the electronic control unit (140) for analysis and conversion into control of the functions of the vehicle. The basic sensor (200) is characterized in that each of the basic sensors includes at least one insulating substrate (210), on which conductive tracks (221, 222) for a capacitive sensor are deposited and formed, and an assembly (230) of conductive or semi-conductive nanoparticles in a colloidal suspension in an electrically insulating ligand is formed, the assembly (230) forming a force sensor. The control box includes the plurality of basic sensors (200), at least one of which is configured to detect contact of a user's finger on a control area (110) of the control box (10) by means of a capacitive sensor of the at least one basic sensor. The electronic control unit (140) is capable of switching some of the basic sensors (200) from a partially active mode in which they can only detect the contact of the user's finger by means of a capacitive sensor of some of the basic sensors (200) to a deactivated mode in which they are insensitive to the user's actions, and switching some of the other basic sensors (200) from a deactivated mode in which they are insensitive to the user's actions to a partially active mode in which they can only detect pressure from the user's finger by means of a force sensor of the other basic sensors.

2. The control box (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the control areas (110) forms a protrusion or recess on the upper surface of the housing (11), on which a user's finger can press. The at least one control area (110) is connected to one of the basic sensors (200) such that pressing the at least one control area (110) causes deformation of the basic sensor (200), which can be detected by the force sensor of the basic sensor (200).

3. The control box (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control box also includes a plurality of light-emitting devices (130, 131), each of which is capable of emitting a light beam in the direction of the housing (11) at the level of the control area (110).

4. The control box (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The light-emitting devices (130, 131) are fastened to the printed circuit board (14) and positioned below the basic sensor (200).

5. The control box (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that, Each light-emitting device consists of a light-emitting diode (130) and / or a light guide (131).

6. The control box (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, The light-emitting devices (130, 131) are controlled by the electronic control unit (140), which is capable of changing the light beam emitted by the light-emitting devices (130, 131) according to the electrical signal transmitted by the basic sensor (200).

7. The control box (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, The control area (110) is of at least two types, namely, a first control area and a second control area, the first control area being referred to as a selection area (112a-112d; 114a-114b), the first control area being intended for selecting a specific element of the vehicle, and the second control area being referred to as an adjustment area (113a-113b; 115a-115d), the second control area being intended for adjusting the position or state of a specific element of the vehicle previously selected by one of the selection areas.

8. The control box (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control box includes four selection areas (112a-112d) and two adjustment areas (113a, 113b). The four selection areas are referred to as window selection areas, which are respectively assigned to select the vehicle windows, namely the left front window, right front window, left rear window, and right rear window. The two adjustment areas are referred to as window adjustment areas, which enable the windows selected by the window selection areas (112a-112d) to be moved down and up, respectively.

9. The control box (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The basic sensor (200) disposed under the window selection area (112a-112d) is configured to detect the contact of a user's finger on the window selection area (112a-112d) by means of a capacitive sensor of the basic sensor, and is characterized in that the basic sensor (200) disposed under the window adjustment area (113a, 113b) is configured to detect the pressure of the user's finger on the window adjustment area (113a, 113b) by means of a force sensor of the basic sensor.

10. The control box (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The basic sensor (200) is printed on a film inserted between the housing (11) and the light-emitting device (130, 131) present on the upper side of the printed circuit board (14).

11. The control box (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control box includes two selection areas (114a, 114b) and four adjustment areas (115a-115d). The two selection areas are referred to as the mirror selection areas, which are respectively assigned to select the mirrors of the vehicle, namely the left mirror and the right mirror. The four adjustment areas are referred to as the mirror adjustment areas, which enable the mirror selected by the mirror selection areas (114a, 114b) to be moved to the left, right, down, and up, respectively.

12. The control box (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that, The basic sensor (200) located under the viewing mirror selection area (114a, 114b) and the viewing mirror adjustment area (115a, 115d) is configured to detect the contact of the user's finger on the viewing mirror selection area (114a, 114b) and the viewing mirror adjustment area (115a-115d) respectively by means of the capacitive sensor of the basic sensor.

13. The control box (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The control box includes two control areas (111a, 111b), which are referred to as the locking / unlocking areas, thereby enabling the doors of the vehicle to be locked and unlocked respectively.

14. The control box (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The at least one basic sensor is configured to detect the presence of a user's finger near the control box (10) by means of a capacitive sensor of the at least one basic sensor, and the electronic control unit (140) is capable of switching at least some of the basic sensors (200) from a deactivated mode insensitive to the user's actions to an activated mode insensitive to the user's actions in response to the signal transmitted by the at least one basic sensor (200).

15. A motor vehicle comprising a control box (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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