Operating units for commercial vehicles

Abstract

The present invention provides an operating unit for a commercial vehicle, the operating unit comprising a handle area, at least one operating unit and a control unit, wherein the handle area comprises a plurality of sensor units for detecting touch, wherein the control unit is configured to detect signals of the sensor units and to recognize intentional operations based on the signals, wherein the arrangement of the sensor units is configured to be able to recognize different hand positions with the aid of the control unit, and wherein the control unit releases a control signal generated by the operating unit and / or the at least one operating unit according to the hand position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an operating unit for a commercial vehicle, comprising a grip region, at least one operating unit and a control unit, wherein the grip region has a plurality of sensor units for detecting touches, wherein the control unit detects signals of the sensor units and recognizes an intended operation based on the signals. Background Art

[0002] Operating units for use in commercial vehicles, in particular off-road vehicles, are usually used to control a variety of movable parts. This control is achieved on the one hand by a swiveling movement of the operating unit itself and on the other hand by an operating unit arranged on the operating unit, for example in the form of a key or a thumb wheel. The operating unit therefore also has the sensor unit described at the beginning in addition to the handle area. In particular, the operating unit may be unintentionally operated due to unevenness in the roadway or unintentional touching by the user. This may lead to unintentional movements of the movable parts, which in turn may lead to property damage or even personal injury.

[0003] Therefore, some devices are known from the prior art. US 2013 / 325 151 A1 discloses a touch-sensitive operating device, which has an operating lever with a handpiece, wherein the handpiece has a sensor matrix for detecting touches in the handle area and an evaluation unit outputs a signal for releasing the use of the operating device if one or more limit values ​​are reached. In addition, the limit values ​​include, for example, coverage of a predetermined handle area, a specific touch point between the user and the handle area and / or an expected length of time of contact between the user and the handle area. The sensor is in particular designed as capacitive, thermal or infrared.

[0004] DE 10 2014 214 989.4 discloses an operating device for a commercial vehicle, which has an operating lever with a hand piece, wherein the hand piece has a grip area with a plurality of sensor units for detecting touches. In addition, the operating device has an evaluation unit for generating a hand presence signal during an intentional operation by the user, wherein a plurality of touch conditions are given for detecting the hand position.

[0005] EP 3 264 231 B1 discloses a device for converting the position or movement of a hand or a finger into an electrical signal, wherein the device has a rod for accommodating one or more fingers or a part of a hand, a rod adjustment sensor, a plurality of touch sensors for detecting the position of the hand, and an electrical data processor. The electrical data processor is designed as a data processor which generates an electrical output signal based on an electrical input signal by means of a control reaction ratio of the electrical input signal to the electrical output signal, wherein the ratio is determined by the consistency or similarity of the hand position and a reference touch point map.

[0006] Users of operating units often control moving parts of commercial vehicles for more than a few hours. Keeping the hand in one position to confirm its presence is highly unergonomic and can lead to chronic pain. The possibility of a loss of concentration due to staying in one position for a long time cannot be ruled out either. Summary of the invention

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to detect intended manipulations based on different hand positions.

[0008] This object is achieved by an operating unit for a commercial vehicle, which has a handle area, at least one operating unit and a control unit, wherein the handle area has a plurality of sensor units for detecting touches, wherein the control unit is designed to detect signals of the sensor units and to recognize an intended operation based on the signals, wherein the arrangement of the sensor units is designed to be able to recognize different hand positions with the help of the control unit, and wherein the control unit releases a control signal generated by the operating unit and / or the at least one operating unit as a function of the hand position.

[0009] According to the invention, the operating unit has a grip area that is ergonomically shaped and comfortable for the user. According to the invention, the operating unit is constructed in the upper area of ​​the operating unit and can be arranged on the side facing or facing away from the user when in use. According to the invention, the operating unit is constructed as a key, a switch or a thumb wheel. According to the invention, it can also be constructed as other mechanical and electrical operating units, in particular touch pads. The operating unit can be operated with the thumb on the side facing the user and with the index finger and middle finger on the side facing away from the user by the user grasping the operating handle with his four fingers in an ergonomic manner and placing his thumb on the upper side of the operating handle or on the side facing him when in use.

[0010] In addition to controlling the movable part via such an operating unit, such control can of course also be accomplished by moving the operating unit itself.

[0011] According to the invention, a plurality of sensor units are arranged in the handle region on the side facing the user and are distributed over the entire length of the handle region. The distribution of the sensor units over the handle region is preferably non-uniform, with those areas of the operating unit that are supposed to be touched during use having a higher density of sensors. Alternatively, according to the invention, the sensor units can also be distributed uniformly over the operating unit. This arrangement of the sensor units enables different hand positions to be detected.

[0012] According to the invention, the sensor unit is designed as a capacitive, inductive, optical, resistive or temperature sensor. According to the invention, at least two, advantageously at least four different hand positions can be detected. This detection is based on touching the operating unit with the palm and / or fingers, in particular the fingertips and / or the palm of the hand.

[0013] Advantageously, provision is made that, for example, starting from a predefined period of time in which a hand position is maintained, or in a hand position that is considered unsuitable for control or that is considered strenuous for the user, the user is stimulated by the device to change position. According to the invention, this stimulus is an optical, acoustic or tactile signal, which is output via the first output unit. This advantageously increases efficiency, mobility and the ability to concentrate. The first output unit is arranged either directly on the operating unit or independently of this operating unit in the commercial vehicle.

[0014] Depending on the position of the hand, the risk of accidentally activating the operating unit or the operating unit increases or decreases. Therefore, the control signal of the operating unit is released variably when the hand position is detected. If the hand position is detected in the upper area of ​​the operating unit, the risk of accidentally operating the operating unit arranged there increases. According to the present invention, a second output signal is given when the swinging movement of the operating unit and / or the operating unit is released, which confirms the release of the corresponding control signal to the user. The user is also informed by means of the second output signal that when he now wants to use the operating unit that is deactivated in his current hand position, he must change his hand position. According to the present invention, the second output signal is an optical, acoustic or tactile signal, in particular a signal that characteristically illuminates the operating unit by means of different colors and lighting intervals. Alternatively, according to the present invention, the second output signal is output by a lighting device arranged on the operating unit or on an external display.

[0015] In an extension of the present invention, it is provided that different hand positions are identified by means of predefined signal patterns of the sensor unit. The signal patterns required for this are stored in the control unit. According to the present invention, at least two sensor units must detect their respective touches in order to identify the hand positions. If such a touch to the operating unit is detected by the sensor unit, the identified measurement signal pattern is compared with the predefined signal pattern, and the corresponding control signal is released when it is consistent with this pattern. The signal pattern is such that it reflects all possible hand positions on the operating unit. It is also in accordance with the present invention that the user's unique hand position is detected by the sensor unit and this unique signal pattern is stored in the control unit. Very advantageously, the system according to the present invention can thus be uniquely matched to the operator and his hand position. Here, the signal patterns generated by the user's health-damaging hand positions are excluded from storage. According to the present invention, these harmful hand positions together with the associated signal patterns have been predetermined.

[0016] In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the sensor units are read out individually and / or that groups of a plurality of sensor units are read out or can be read out. When the measurement signals of the individual sensor units are read out, they are detected and further processed in the control unit.

[0017] However, due to the uniqueness of the physical properties of the user's hand and the uniqueness of the gripping position, it becomes difficult to predefine all potential signal patterns. In order to compensate for this, the present invention proposes in an extended solution to also read a group of sensor units together. This group is formed by at least two adjacent sensor units, wherein adjacent is particularly defined as being arranged directly side by side. It is advantageous to read the measurement signals of this group together in this way, because it also detects touches with unique deviations as grips that meet the regulations and can release control signals. For this reason, according to the present invention, first, a tolerance is set for the number of touch recognitions performed by the sensor units of the group. Therefore, even if the number of touch recognitions is less than the number of sensor units of the group, as long as it is not lower than the boundary value, it will also lead to the release of the control signal. In other words, even if there are only three fingers instead of four fingers touching, the present invention can also identify it as a hand position that meets the regulations and predefined. The signal pattern can be composed of the measurement signals of at least two individual sensor units, or of the measurement signals of at least one group, or of a combination of the measurement signals of at least one individual sensor unit and at least one group. In any case, at least two sensor units must recognize the touch in order to form a signal pattern that recognizes the hand position. According to the invention, the limit value, ie the tolerance, of the deviation in the number of sensor units and touch detections within a group is at most 50%, advantageously at most 35%, particularly advantageously at most 20%.

[0018] The control unit according to the present invention recognizes the signal of the sensor unit as a touch when it exceeds or falls below a threshold value. Depending on the signal calculation method used, the value of the signal increases or decreases when touched. In the case where the signal value increases when touched, it must exceed the boundary value to be recognized as a touch. In the case where the signal value decreases when touched, it must be correspondingly below the boundary value to be recognized as a touch. Because commercial vehicles are usually used in a harsh environment with severe dirt, the operator's hands are easily soiled or covered by protective gloves. Therefore, it is stipulated that the threshold value (from which the measurement signal in the control unit is recognized as a touch) is selected in this way so that the control unit can reliably perceive the user's touch in different states, especially the threshold value is at least 20% higher / lower than the signal when there is no touch. In addition, the touch can be recognized based on the speed of change of the signal, that is, based on the first-order derivative of the signal curve. If there is a steep side edge of the signal curve, especially a jump-like change, or a high / low value of the first-order derivative is reached, it can be recognized as a touch.

[0019] Likewise, according to the invention, even if the sensor unit is contactless during a predetermined, brief idle time, the hand position that was detected is retained and the control signal is therefore released. Thus, for example, a brief change of grip does not lead to a blocking of the control signal, ensuring smooth operation. The idle time is selected according to the invention to be less than 1 second, advantageously less than 0.8 seconds, and particularly advantageously less than 0.6 seconds.

[0020] In the design scheme of the present invention, it is provided that the reset resistance in the swinging motion of the operating unit is matched according to the hand position. Due to the corresponding lever action, the operator must apply different adjustment forces according to his hand position to swing the operating unit, especially to overcome the reset force to implement this swinging motion. According to the present invention, this situation is offset by matching the reset resistance according to the hand position. It is particularly advantageous to match the reset resistance by using a magnetorheological fluid. Other mechanical or chemical components for adjusting the reset resistance are also in line with the present invention. Therefore, if the user holds the operating unit in the upper area and therefore there is a large lever relative to the swing axis, then a higher reset force should be selected than when he holds the operating unit in the lower area, and the lever action is significantly smaller in the lower area. Therefore, according to the present invention, a substantially constant force consumption is set for operating the operating unit regardless of the actual hand position. This measure also reduces erroneous operations caused by excessive or weak force consumption.

[0021] According to the invention, a sequential signal pattern generated by the user's hand movement locks or unlocks the operating unit for use. The invention therefore not only recognizes purely static signal patterns, but also recognizes sequential signal patterns with the help of sensor units and control units. This sequential signal pattern is mainly used to release the operating unit as a whole before the first use, because this release only occurs when a predefined movement sequence is implemented and recognized. This sequential signal pattern according to the invention is, for example, a sequence of predefined hand positions, but can also be a sequence of sensor units or groups to be touched individually. Only when the user has generated this sequential sequence of a specific signal pattern is the operating unit activated for normal operation with the help of hand position recognition. If the user leaves his work station, he will perform the predefined sequential sequence of the specific signal pattern again, so that the operating unit cannot be used even when a hand position consistent with the signal pattern is recognized, until the lock is unlocked again by the sequential signal pattern. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The invention will be explained in more detail below with the aid of embodiments by means of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] Figure 1 is a stereoscopic view of the operating unit;

[0024] Figure 2a is a side view of the operating unit during use in the first hand position;

[0025] Figure 2b is a side view of the operating unit during use in the second hand position;

[0026] Figure 2c is a side view of the operating unit during use in the third hand position;

[0027] Figure 2d is a side view of the operating unit during use in the fourth hand position;

[0028] Figure 3 It is a process diagram used to control the operating unit.

[0029] Reference numerals list

[0030] 1 Operating unit

[0031] 2 Handle area

[0032] 3 Control unit

[0033] 4 Control unit

[0034] 5 Sensor unit

[0035] 6 Grouping

[0036] 7 Bellows

[0037] 8 Control area

[0038] 9 Upper area

[0039] 10 Lower area

[0040] 11 Central Area

[0041] 12 Side facing away

[0042] 13 Measuring signal

[0043] 14 Measurement signal mode

[0044] 15 Signal Mode

[0045] 16 memory cells

[0046] 17 hands

[0047] 18 Control Signal

[0048] 19 Release signal

[0049] 20 Switch

[0050] 21 Machine parts

[0051] 22 Motion determination unit DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] Figure 1 A stereoscopic view of an operating unit 1 is shown, wherein the operating unit 1 has a bellows 7 and an operating area 8 in addition to a handle area 2. The bellows 7 is arranged below the handle area 2 and ensures a waterproof and dustproof connection between the operating unit 1 and an operating surface (not shown) of a commercial vehicle. The operating area 8 is arranged in an upper area 9 of the operating unit 1, wherein an operating unit 3 in the form of a key and a thumb wheel is constructed in this operating area 8. Six touch-detecting sensor units 5 are arranged around the operating area 8. Another six sensor units 5 are arranged in the lower area 10 of the operating unit 1, which are positioned in a grid (Raster). Four of the six sensor units 5 arranged in the lower area 10 can be combined into a group 6. In this embodiment of the present invention, all sensor units 5 are basically arranged on the side facing the user. The operating unit 1 therefore has a higher density of sensor units 5 in its upper area 9 and lower area 10 than in the central area 11.

[0053] Figure 2a-2d A side view of the operating unit 1 is shown during use in different hand positions, wherein: Figure 2a shows the first hand position, Figure 2b The second hand position is shown, Figure 2cThe third hand position is shown, and Figure 2d A fourth hand position is shown.

[0054] First hand position ( Figure 2a ) is detected by the sensor unit 5 arranged in the upper area 9. During the use of the operating unit 1 in the first hand position, the hand 17 covers the operating area 8, which can lead to unintentional operation of the operating unit 3 arranged there. Therefore, when the first hand position is detected, the control signal 18 of the operating unit 3 arranged in the operating area 8 is not released. The operating units 3 are also arranged on the side 12 facing away from the user. These operating units 3 can be reached in particular by the index finger and / or the ring finger of the user, so their control signals 18 are released when the first hand position is detected.

[0055] In the second hand position ( Figure 2b ), during the use of the operating unit 1, the palm of the hand 17 is in the lower region 10 of the operating unit 1, and the operating region 8 can be reached by the user, in particular, with the thumb. The operating unit 3 on the side facing away 12 can be reached, in particular, by the user's index finger and / or middle finger. Since the operating unit 3 is not arranged in the lower region 10 and the swiveling movement of the operating unit 1 is not hindered by this positioning of the hand 17, all control signals 18 of the operating unit 1 and the operating unit 3 are released. The hand position is detected, in particular, by the sensor unit 5 arranged in the lower region 10.

[0056] Figure 2c A third hand position is shown, in which the hand 17 extends over the lower region 10 and over parts of the bellows 7. It is not absolutely necessary to restrict the release of the operating units 3 here, since the operating hand 17 does not touch these operating units and the risk of unintentional operation is therefore low. The leverage exerted by the user is greatly reduced in this third hand position, especially compared to the first hand position, so that according to the invention, an adaptation of the return resistance and a calibration of the swivel movement are achieved.

[0057] exist Figure 2d , in which the operating unit 1 is touched, in particular, by the fingertip of the hand 17. Since the user controls the operating unit 1 with his finger, he does not touch the operating unit 3. However, due to the slipping of the finger during the control, there is also the risk of unintentional operation of the operating unit 3 arranged in the operating area 8. Therefore, when the fourth hand position is detected, it is provided that the control signal 18 of these operating units 3 is not released.

[0058] Figure 3A process diagram for querying a control signal 18 for releasing an operating unit 1 is shown, wherein a plurality of measurement signals 13 of sensor units 5, which are in particular configured as capacitive sensors, are conducted to a control unit 4, which is configured as a microcontroller. The measurement signals 13 are converted into digital values ​​in the control unit 4, wherein 1 is defined as the detection of a touch and 0 is defined as the absence of a touch. The digital values ​​can be combined into a measurement signal pattern 14. This measurement signal pattern 14 is compared with a predefined signal pattern 15 from a memory unit 16. If the measurement signal pattern 14 generated by the user's touch coincides with the signal pattern 15, then the hand position stored in the memory unit 16 according to the signal pattern 15 is determined. After the hand position has been determined or not determined, the corresponding release signal 19 is conducted to a switch 20, which is in particular configured in the control unit 4. According to the invention, the switch 20 can be configured as an external transistor, a field effect transistor (FET) or other electrical, chemical or mechanical switch. If a corresponding release signal 19 closes the switch 20, the control signal 18 triggered by the user via the movement determination unit 22 of the operating unit 1 and / or the operating units 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.n is conducted to the corresponding electrical and mechanical machine parts 21 of the commercial vehicle (not shown below) via the switch 20. If no clear hand position can be determined after comparing the current measurement signal pattern 14 with the signal pattern 15, the release of the control signal 18 is prevented and the switch 20 is opened accordingly.

Claims

1. An operating unit (1) for a commercial vehicle, comprising a handle area (2), at least one operating unit (3) and a control unit (4), wherein the handle area (2) has a plurality of sensor units (5) for detecting touch, wherein the control unit (4) is configured to detect signals of the sensor units (5) and to recognize an intended operation based on the signals, characterized in that The arrangement of the sensor unit (5) is constructed so that different hand positions can be recognized with the aid of the control unit (4), wherein the control unit (4) can release a control signal generated by the operating unit (1) and / or the at least one operating unit (3) according to the hand position, wherein a group (6) consisting of a plurality of sensor units (5) can be read together, wherein the group (6) is formed by at least two adjacent sensor units (5), thereby setting a tolerance for the number of touch recognitions performed by the sensor units (5) of the group (6), so that even if the number of touch recognitions is less than the number of sensor units (5) of the group (6), as long as it does not fall below a limit value, it will result in the release of the control signal.

2. The operating unit (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that Different hand positions are detected with the aid of predefined signal patterns of the sensor unit (5).

3. The operating unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The sensor units (5) can be read individually.

4. The operating unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The control unit (4) recognizes the signal of the sensor unit (5) as a touch when a threshold value is exceeded or fallen below.

5. The operating unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A return resistance during a pivoting movement of the operating unit (1) is adapted as a function of the hand position.

6. The operating unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: A sequential signal pattern generated by hand movements of a user locks and / or unlocks the operating unit (1) for use.

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