Joystick with multifunction carrier element

Abstract

The invention provides a joystick for operating a commercial vehicle, having a grip region, wherein the grip region has a material-locked and / or form-locked connection to a carrier element, wherein at least three conductor elements of the same material are arranged on the carrier element, wherein at least one conductor element is configured as a heating element, at least one conductor element is configured as a temperature sensor element, and at least one conductor element is configured as a touch detection element.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control lever for operating a commercial vehicle, the control lever having a handle area having a material-locking connection with a carrier element, wherein at least three conductor elements, particularly of the same material, are arranged on the carrier element. Background Technology

[0002] Such joysticks are commonly used in commercial vehicles, particularly off-road vehicles, to control various moving parts. Because these vehicles are not entirely enclosed cabs, or the cabs can only be heated to a limited extent when outside temperatures are low, it is necessary to protect the user's hands resting on the joysticks from the cold. While this can theoretically be accomplished by wearing gloves, this is disadvantageous because gloves significantly make precise and accurate adjustment of the joystick operation difficult or even impossible. Furthermore, even with gloves, the health risks of cold cannot be ruled out; at the very least, the operator's attention may be affected by their wet or cold hands. Therefore, it is desirable to keep the operator's hands warm by incorporating heating elements on the joysticks.

[0003] Such joystick temperature control devices are known in the prior art. DE 10 2011 121 979A1 discloses a temperature control device, particularly for a control handle in a vehicle, wherein the temperature control device has a temperature control wire embedded in a fixing groove of a carrier and configured to be spaced apart from a covering layer. Here, the covering layer at least partially covers the carrier. A material-locked connection exists between the temperature control device and the carrier, particularly by adhesive. This document also describes a sensor for detecting temperature and / or contact with the user.

[0004] US 10,329,736B2 discloses an excavator with two joysticks, each joystick having a handle area, wherein the handle area has a heating element, and the heating element itself has heating circuitry or a flexible heat transfer substrate. One joystick is equipped with a temperature sensor. The heating element can be activated by a control element based on data from the temperature sensor, an active generator, a lock switch, a heating switch, and a user-preset temperature setting.

[0005] The highly complex structure of the heating, sensor, and control elements on joysticks known in existing technology makes them prone to malfunction, both during manufacturing and in harsh environments with severe pollution and large temperature differences. This complexity also increases manufacturing costs. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide a joystick that is inexpensive, easy to manufacture, and has a high functional density.

[0007] This task is solved by a joystick for operating a commercial vehicle, the joystick having a handle area having a material-locking and / or shape-locking connection with a carrier element, wherein at least three conductor elements, preferably of the same material, are arranged on the carrier element, wherein at least one conductor element is configured as a heating element, at least one conductor element is configured as a temperature sensor element, and at least one conductor element is configured as a touch detection element. The handle area preferably has a shape that matches the user's palm. The carrier element is advantageously constructed in terms of shape and material elasticity such that it can be easily mounted onto the handle area. The material-locking connection between the handle area and the carrier element is preferably established by adhesive or thermoforming processes, but the shape-locking connection between the handle area and the carrier element according to the invention is particularly a connection produced by an in-mold process. The conductor elements are advantageously formed of conductive materials, particularly carbon fibers or metallic materials such as silver, copper, or aluminum, or alloys of these materials. The at least three conductor elements preferably have different shapes, sizes, and arrangements, so that they are optimally matched to their respective functions.

[0008] The conductor elements configured as heating elements are advantageously arranged as evenly and over a large area as possible above the carrier elements in order to achieve uniform and high-level heat dissipation.

[0009] The conductor element configured as a temperature sensor element is preferably arranged on the carrier element in such a way that it can detect points or areas with the highest or lowest temperatures. In the design of the invention, two or more temperature sensor elements are provided, arranged at the points of highest and lowest temperatures, so that the maximum temperature difference can be determined. This advantageously allows for the determination of the average temperature and thus the matching of the heating power of the heating element, which results in a sufficiently high average temperature in the handle area of ​​the joystick. In an embodiment of the invention with only one temperature sensor element, the temperature drop or rise across the carrier element can be determined by means of a temperature trend characteristic curve, thus allowing for the detection of the average temperature and matching of the heat dissipation of the heating element. The temperature sensor element is preferably configured as a positive temperature coefficient semiconductor (Kaltleiter), in which the change in resistance as a function of temperature can be measured. By using a four-conductor connection (Vier-Leiter-Anschluss) of the temperature sensor element according to the invention, the measuring current can be input separately, thus compensating for the effects of contact resistance and line resistance. The invention also forms a conductor element that incorporates the functions of both a heating element and a temperature sensor element.

[0010] The at least one conductive element, as a construction scheme for a touch detection element, advantageously enables reliable identification of the operator's hand resting on the joystick handle. The touch detection element is planarly mounted on a carrier element, thus ensuring identification even for different hand positions. According to the invention, the touch detection element is constructed as a capacitive, inductive, optical, or resistive element, or as a temperature sensor element.

[0011] According to the invention, the conductor elements are printed onto a first side and / or a second side of the carrier element using a printing process, particularly screen printing. At least all functionally identical conductor elements are advantageously printed on a common side. According to the invention, the carrier element is embedded in the frame of the printing mold during the screen printing process. A template is then mounted onto the carrier element, preventing coating formation on non-designated areas. The coating can be applied to the template and carrier element using a squeegee. After printing, the carrier element is removed from the machine. According to the invention, the coating forms the conductor element. Depending on the material of the conductor element, a seal is applied to the carrier element to protect it from external influences and corrosion. If changes to the conductor elements themselves or their arrangement on the carrier element are required, only a new template needs to be created for each side. Other manufacturing processes remain unaffected, resulting in quick and simple modifications and thus cost savings.

[0012] In an extended design of the invention, the carrier element is configured as a carrier film and / or self-adhesive and / or heat-resistant. It is particularly advantageous to configure the carrier film to be flexible such that it substantially conforms to the shape of the handle area. Also according to the invention, multiple carrier elements are arranged on the joystick for the largest possible functional area, wherein at least one carrier element is configured according to the invention, and another carrier element is configured with only one conductor element, particularly a heating element. According to the invention, the tensile and compressive strength of the carrier film ensures that the substantially inelastic conductor element disposed thereon is not damaged during installation. The self-adhesive construction of the carrier element is particularly advantageous because no additional tools are required for its placement on the handle area. This reduces manufacturing and material costs due to quick and simplified installation. The placement of the carrier element on the handle area according to the invention is accomplished by means of a stencil or manually. The high heat resistance of the carrier element is particularly advantageous because it is disposed directly on the heating element.

[0013] In the design of this invention, the carrier element has tabs, on which spaced-apart and opposing ribs are formed. This advantageously allows the tabs to bend about at least two axes without increasing the risk of wrinkles or cracks forming in the carrier element. The carrier element can thus conform to the contour of the handle area. According to the invention, a first bending structure is formed on the tab along a first bending edge, and a second bending structure is formed on the rib along a second bending edge, wherein the first and second bending edges are arranged orthogonally.

[0014] Furthermore, according to the invention, the at least one heating element is configured to be substantially meandering, thereby providing shielding against electromagnetic radiation for the at least one touch detection element. The heating element is configured as a narrow extension with a predetermined resistance so that electrical energy can be converted into heat during the flow of a controllable current through the heating element. Due to the uniform distribution of the heating elements on the carrier element, in addition to uniform heat dissipation, shielding against electromagnetic radiation for the touch detection element is also achieved in a particularly advantageous manner. Therefore, the invention minimizes negative external impacts on the functionality of the touch detection element.

[0015] In the design of this invention, the conductor elements are respectively connected to a control element, wherein the control element outputs a control signal to the heating element based on signals from a temperature sensor element and / or a touch detection element and / or an HMI. A separately settable temperature can be achieved by means of the value measured by the temperature sensor element. In one embodiment, temperature adjustment is achieved through substantially continuous pulse width modulation. In another embodiment, the carrier element has at least two heating elements that can be switched on or off, thus changing the heating power of the carrier element. The desired temperature can be configured via an HMI (Human Machine Interface). In one embodiment according to the invention, a hand is identified by a touch detection element, and the circuit to the heating element is closed by the control element. If no hand is identified, the circuit to the heating element is interrupted by the control element. Also according to the invention, the heating element can be adjusted independently of the touch detection element. According to the invention, the conductor elements are connected to the control element via ZIF or LIF plugs or crimpable plug contacts, wherein the crimpable plug contacts advantageously have higher current carrying capacity.

[0016] In the design of this invention, the at least three conductor elements are constructed of the same material. This simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces costs and manufacturing time because a common manufacturing process can be used and the at least three conductor elements can be advantageously mounted onto the carrier element in a single manufacturing step.

[0017] In an extended design of the invention, the conductor element is specified to be coated, particularly with a carbon layer. If the resistance of the heating element is insufficient to achieve adequate heating power, the coating can advantageously increase the line resistance and thus the heating power. Also according to the invention, other coatings for increasing line resistance, besides carbon layers, can be used. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments and accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0019] Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional view of the joystick;

[0020] Figure 2 It is the inner surface of the half-shell;

[0021] Figure 3 These are side views of two carrier elements;

[0022] Figure 4 It is an exploded view of the carrier element and the conductor element; and

[0023] Figure 5 This is a diagram of an electrical connection.

[0024] List of reference numerals

[0025] 1. Joystick

[0026] 2 Handle Area

[0027] 3. Carrier Components

[0028] 4 Conductor elements

[0029] 5. Heating element

[0030] 6 Temperature sensor components

[0031] 7 Touch detection elements

[0032] 8 First side view

[0033] 9 Second side view

[0034] 10 Control Elements

[0035] 11 HMI

[0036] 12 Connection Points

[0037] 13 Short side edges

[0038] 14. Edge Area

[0039] 15 branches

[0040] 16. Bending section

[0041] 17 sides

[0042] 18 stitched images

[0043] 19 ribs

[0044] 20 Inner surface

[0045] 21 Half-shell

[0046] 22. Control joystick axis

[0047] 23 Bridging Area

[0048] 24 Corrosion-resistant components

[0049] 25 Adhesive components

[0050] 26 Coating Detailed Implementation

[0051] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a joystick 1 is shown, wherein the joystick 1 has a handle region 2 formed by two half-shells 21, and a carrier element 3 is arranged on the inner surface 20 of each half-shell. The first carrier element 3 is arranged on the user-facing side of the handle region 2, and the second carrier element 3 is arranged on the side facing away from the user. This arrangement allows for the identification and heating of the user's palm and the inner surface of the fingers resting against the opposite side of the handle region 2, for example, pointing towards the palm.

[0052] Figure 2 The inner surface of the half-shell 21 is shown, wherein the carrier element 3 is a self-adhesive carrier film that is directly adhered to the inner surface 20. The carrier element 3 has tabs 18 with ribs 19 spaced apart from each other and pointing away from each other. The ribs 19 have a three-dimensional partially circular shape around the axis 22 of the control lever.

[0053] Figure 3 Side views of two carrier elements 3 are shown, wherein the shapes of the carrier elements 3 match the corresponding shapes of the half-shell 21 (not shown). The tab 18 of the carrier element 3 on the left has a trapezoidal shape, wherein bridging regions 23 are configured to reduce and increase the radius about the joystick axis 22. According to the invention, the tab 18 may also have multiple bridging regions 23 and thus can optimally match the shape of the inner surface 20 (not shown). Therefore, the carrier element 3 can match the basic shape of the handle region 2 without damaging the carrier element 3. According to the invention, this construction scheme also minimizes undesirable wrinkles on the carrier element 3.

[0054] Figure 4An exploded view of the carrier element 3 and conductor element 4 according to the invention is shown, wherein a temperature sensor element 6 and a heating element 5 are printed on a first side surface 8 and a touch detection element 7 is printed on a second side surface 9. The conductor elements 4 are arranged spaced apart from edge regions 14 constructed around the periphery of the carrier element 3, except for their connection points 12 (not shown). Each conductor element has at least one connection point 12 (not shown) on a short side edge 13 of the carrier element 3, wherein, according to the invention, the touch detection element 7 has one connection point 12, the heating element 5 has two connection points 12, and the temperature sensor element 6 has four connection points 12. The connection points 12 are spaced apart from each other in such a way that electrical connections between individual conductor elements 4 are excluded. The heating element 5 extends meanderingly along two branches 15, wherein the spacing between the edge regions 14 and the curved portions 16 of the heating element 5, and the spacing between the two sides 17 of the heating element 5, are substantially the same. The temperature sensor element 6 is arranged substantially U-shaped and centrally located between the two branches 15 of the carrier element 3. The heating element 5 and the temperature sensor element 6 can therefore both be arranged on the first side 8 without affecting their function. Because the touch detection element 7 is constructed almost entirely across the surface for reliable hand detection, this element is arranged separately on the second side 9. Furthermore, the temperature sensor element 6 and the heating element 5 are arranged between the carrier element 3 and the corrosion-resistant element 24, wherein a coating 26 is incorporated between the heating element 5 and the corrosion-resistant element 24, and this coating is also meandering and constructed along the direction of the heating element 5. The touch detection element 7 is arranged between the carrier element and the adhesive element 25.

[0055] Figure 5 This diagram illustrates the electrical connections within the joystick 1, where measurement signals from the temperature sensor element 6 and the touch detection element 7 are fed into the control element 10. Furthermore, the control element 10 receives signals from the HMI 11. Within the control element 10, the actual temperature value from the measurement signal of the temperature sensor element 6 is compared with a rated value that can be individually set by the user within the HMI 11. Depending on whether the actual value matches or deviates from the rated value, a corresponding control signal from the control element 10 is sent to the corresponding heating element 5. On the other hand, the control element 10 identifies the presence of a hand touch on the joystick 1 using the measurement signal from the touch detection element 7. Depending on the logic of the control element 10, the detection of a hand by one, several, or all of the touch detection elements 7 closes the signal line from the control element 10 to the heating element 5. If no hand is detected on the joystick 1, the switch is turned off and the heating element 5 cannot be driven. The one or more switches can also be closed independently of the temperature sensor element 6 via the HMI 11.

Claims

1. A control lever (1) for operating a commercial vehicle, the control lever having a handle area (2), wherein the handle area (2) has a material-locking and / or shape-locking connection with a carrier element (3), wherein at least three conductor elements (4) are arranged on the carrier element (3), wherein, At least one conductor element (4) is configured as a heating element (5), at least one conductor element is configured as a temperature sensor element (6), and at least one conductor element is configured as a touch detection element (7), wherein the carrier element (3) is configured as a carrier film, and the carrier film is configured such that the carrier film can match the shape of the handle area (2), wherein the carrier element (3) has a first side (8) and a second side (9), wherein both the heating element (5) and the temperature sensor element (6) are arranged on the first side (8), and the touch detection element (7) is arranged separately on the second side (9).

2. The joystick (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conductor element (4) is printed onto the first side (8) and / or the second side (9) of the carrier element (3) by means of a printing process.

3. The joystick (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The printing process is screen printing.

4. The joystick (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The carrier element (3) is self-adhesive and / or heat-resistant.

5. The joystick (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The carrier element (3) has a tab (18) on which ribs (19) are constructed spaced apart from each other and facing away from each other.

6. The joystick (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The at least one heating element (5) is configured to be meandering and to shield the at least one touch detection element (7) from electromagnetic radiation.

7. The joystick (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The conductor element (4) is connected to the control element (10), wherein the control element (10) outputs a control signal to the heating element (5) based on the signals detected by the temperature sensor element (6) and / or the touch detection element (7) and / or the HMI (11).

8. The joystick (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The conductor element (4) is made of the same material.

9. The joystick (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The conductor element (4) is coated.

10. The joystick (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The conductor element (4) is coated with a carbon layer.

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