Operating member with haptic feedback limited in an improved manner to the driving surface

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating member (1) comprising a carrier (2), a drive part (3) supported on the carrier (2) and forming a visible surface (10), an island-like drive surface (11) being formed within the visible surface (10), the drive surface (11) being formed by a cantilever drive portion (6) of the drive part (3), the drive portion (6) being surrounded by an insulating portion (5) of the drive part (3) such that the drive portion (6) can vibrate relative to the carrier (2), detection means (8, 9) for detecting a touch on the drive surface and / or a drive of the drive part (3), a driver (4) fixed on the drive portion (6) on a side facing away from the operator from the operator's point of view, in the case of a positive detection of a drive or touch, an electrical excitation signal (I(t)) being applied to the driver (4) by the detection means (8, 9) in order to excite a vibration of the drive portion (6) for a haptic feedback.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an operating member having a drive component with a drive surface for an operator to perform operational inputs. A detection device is provided to the drive component to detect actuation of the drive component upon touching or exceeding the level of touching. Background Technology

[0002] Drive is understood as the displacement of a drive component under the influence of a driving force applied by an operator and acting on a drive surface. For this purpose, the drive component is typically supported on a carrier in a manner capable of elastic vibration, so as to both drive displacement and excite vibration of the drive component. To induce forced vibration or at least deflection, so-called active tactile feedback, used to tactilely confirm a previously occurred touch or drive, provides an actuator to which an electrical control signal can be applied. Generally, the problem is that the generated vibrational excitation is not limited to the drive surface, and the generated vibration further propagates to the drive component, for example, as structural noise. This has several disadvantages: on the one hand, it is desirable to limit tactile feedback to the drive surface in order to create a unique association between the operator and the corresponding drive surface. This is particularly advantageous where the drive surface constitutes only a part of a large surface, or if multiple drive surfaces are provided and the limitation of tactile feedback to the corresponding area is used for the operator's tactile orientation on the surface. There is also the problem that structural noise propagating in an undamped manner can contribute to the generation of unwanted noise, for example, in fastening structures outside the operating component, but secondary noise generated by structural noise can also be problematic. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Against the aforementioned background, there is a need for a solution for an operating member having a vibrating drive component to generate active tactile feedback, wherein the active tactile feedback is confined to the drive surface in an improved manner, and the operating member can be implemented with a simple design and weight saving. This objective is achieved by the operating member provided according to the first aspect of the invention. Equally advantageous applications are the subject of the second aspect of the invention. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims in each case. It should be noted that features individually referenced in the claims can be combined with each other in any technically meaningful manner and represent other embodiments of the invention. The invention is additionally characterized and defined in the description, particularly in conjunction with the drawings.

[0004] This invention relates to an operating component. The term "operating component" should be interpreted broadly and is used to perform operational input via a movable driven part in a human-machine interface context.

[0005] The operating member according to the invention includes a carrier. The term "carrier" should be interpreted broadly and refers, for example, to a component used to secure a drive member to a support structure or indirectly or directly to, for example, a motor vehicle component. For example, the carrier is configured as a housing. For example, the carrier is not visible to the operator if the operating member is connected as intended. For example, the carrier is formed of plastic, metal, or a metal alloy (e.g., ZAMAK), or a combination thereof.

[0006] The operating member according to the invention further comprises a drive member supported on the carrier and forming a visible surface facing the operator, and forming at least one island-shaped drive surface within the visible surface; wherein the drive surface is formed by a cantilevered drive portion of the drive member; the drive portion is surrounded by an insulating portion of the drive member, the insulating portion being more flexible than the drive portion, thereby enabling the drive portion to be supported to vibrate relative to the carrier, particularly in a direction perpendicular to the drive surface. The “island-shaped” arrangement of the drive surfaces within the visible surface is also understood to mean an arrangement in which the edges of the drive surfaces partially coincide with the outer boundary of the visible surface, i.e., the “island-shaped” arrangement does not necessarily need to be integrally placed inside the visible surface. However, preferably, the drive surfaces are spaced apart from the outer boundary of the visible surface.

[0007] According to the present invention, the operating member has a detection device for detecting contact on the driving surface and / or detecting the actuation of the driving component. For example, a capacitive touch sensor system for detecting touch or a resistive, capacitive, inductive, or optical force sensor for detecting the actuation of the driving component is provided. Preferably, the force sensor is a non-contact working sensor, i.e., the cantilever driving surface is not supported on the carrier component via the force sensor.

[0008] According to the invention, an actuator is also provided, which, from the operator's perspective, is fixed to a drive portion below a drive component or to the side facing away from the operator. Upon positive detection of a drive or touch, an electrical excitation signal is applied to it by a detection device to excite vibration of the drive portion for tactile feedback. The actuator is an active actuator, i.e., an actuator triggered by an electrical excitation signal provided by a detection device, and is capable of exciting deflection or vibration of the drive portion by applying a pulse (e.g., an impact) or applying vibration to the drive portion of the drive component, which the operator can tactilely perceive by placing a finger on the drive surface. For example, this tactile perception serves as a confirmation signal for an executed touch or drive, or as tactile confirmation of an executed switch or control input. Preferably, the actuator is an inertial-based, motor-based actuator, such as a motor with a mass mounted eccentrically relative to its center of gravity on its rotating drive shaft, or a magnetic coil actuator, or a piezoelectric actuator, or a linear broadband actuator, such as a voice coil actuator or a linear resonant actuator. Preferably, the actuator is specifically fixed to the drive component, e.g., by screws or adhesive.

[0009] According to the invention, the dynamic stiffness (understood as the local dynamic elastic modulus and the local entropy of the local thickness of the drive component) varies along a measurement segment of maximum length 1 cm, which is introduced from or passes through the insulating portion and lies on the visible surface, such that for a continuous frequency range between 30 Hz and 1000 Hz, a first transfer function determined at the beginning of the measurement segment located within the drive surface differs from a second transfer function determined at the end of the measurement segment located outside the drive surface within the same frequency range by at least 5 dB, preferably at least 10 dB. For example, the end is located within the insulating surface associated with the insulating portion, such as at its outermost edge furthest from the drive surface. For example, the transfer function of an electrically excited signal is determined, which is the same in each case, with a bandwidth limited to 10 Hz to 4000 Hz, and configured as white noise, pink noise, or multiple sine waves.

[0010] Due to the configuration of the insulating portion according to the invention, significant damping of vibration transmission in the drive component region located outside the drive portion is achieved for the excitation spectrum of an excitation signal typically used for tactile stimulation. Therefore, tactile feedback is confined to the drive portion with the drive surface within the maximum spectral range, and corresponding damping is applied outside the drive surface, allowing the operator to successfully tactilely locate the tactile feedback on the actual drive surface located on the visible surface. Furthermore, this results in the minimization of the area where noise is transmitted outside the drive portion. Thus, the tactile feedback is not only improved in its connection to the drive surface location but also improved overall.

[0011] Preferably, the electrical excitation signal intended for tactile stimulation is bandwidth-limited in such a way that its excitation spectrum, i.e., the amplitude spectrum of the excitation signal, is between 30 Hz and 1000 Hz, preferably between 40 Hz and 600 Hz, and partially or completely includes at least the aforementioned frequency range. Preferably, the entire excitation spectrum of the excitation signal, or 80% of it, or at least most of it, lies within the aforementioned frequency range. In the context of this invention, bandwidth limitation means that the excitation spectrum has a 3 dB bandwidth near its maximum value. The limiting frequency is set to half of the maximum value, corresponding to a reduction to approximately 3 dB.

[0012] Preferably, the change in dynamic stiffness is caused by a change in the thickness of the drive component defined perpendicular to the visible surface and / or a localized change in the material composition of the drive component. Preferably, this is a sudden change. A transition is considered sudden or discontinuous if the resulting dynamic stiffness at least doubles or at most halves within a 1 mm distance along the measurement segment. For example, a sudden change provides abrupt changes in wave impedance, causing reflections to occur to the drive portion, thereby damping (attenuating) noise during its transfer from the drive portion. For example, a sudden change in material composition and / or the thickness of the drive component defines the outer boundary of the drive surface, thus defining the drive portion. For example, the thickness of the drive portion is substantially constant, except for possible thickness fluctuations, such as those provided by the web or holes for connecting the actuator.

[0013] Preferably, the thickness variation is formed by a groove provided on the side of the drive component facing away from the operator, wherein the inner wall of the groove closer to the drive surface changes abruptly in thickness.

[0014] Preferably, the duration of the electrical excitation signal is limited to less than 100 ms, more preferably less than 25 ms, in order to reduce low-frequency components in the excitation spectrum.

[0015] Preferably, the insulating portion is formed to extend completely around the driving portion.

[0016] Preferably, the driving component, at least the driving portion, is formed of a layer structure consisting of at least two layers, wherein the elastic moduli of the at least two layers are different.

[0017] In this case, one layer of the layered structure is preferably a high-strength layer of material having the maximum elastic modulus of the layered structure, which extends substantially parallel to the driving surface, for example, between the actuator and the driving surface.

[0018] Preferably, the thickness of the high-strength layer is reduced in the insulating portion to provide thickness variation.

[0019] Preferably, the high-strength layer is formed of thermoplastic, such as polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate, particularly fiber-reinforced thermoplastic, to provide a drive section with relatively high rigidity.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the layer structure has a highly elastic layer of material with the minimum elastic modulus of the layer structure, which has the maximum layer thickness among all the layers involved in the insulating portion, in order to provide its flexibility.

[0021] Preferably, the highly elastic layer is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.

[0022] Preferably, the layer structure has an additional layer for providing material and thickness variations in the insulating portion. For example, this layer includes a material having a greater acoustic damping effect than any material of the drive components in the drive portion.

[0023] Preferably, the driving surface constitutes less than half, more preferably less than 1 / 5, and more preferably less than 1 / 10 of the visible surface of the driving component facing the operator. Preferably, the driving surface has a maximum diameter of no more than 2 cm.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, several drive portions are provided, each having an associated actuator and surrounding insulation. Therefore, embodiments according to the invention enable tactile localization of multiple drive surfaces without visual inspection, due to the localized limiting effect of tactile feedback. This is particularly advantageous in motor vehicle applications, where drivers lack the time to visually inspect most connection points. Thus, for example, by individually configuring tactile feedback with specific excitation spectra, an operator can be provided with the possibility of tactilely locating a specific drive surface on a visible surface based on tactile feedback.

[0025] Furthermore, for the reasons described above, the present invention relates to the application of the operating member according to the invention in one of the above embodiments in a motor vehicle. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The invention is further illustrated below with reference to the figures. The figures should be understood as illustrative only, and each figure represents only a preferred embodiment. In the figures:

[0027] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the operating member 1 according to the present invention is shown;

[0028] Figure 2 The spectral representations of the first and second transfer functions are shown;

[0029] Figure 3 The electrical excitation signal in a time-based representation is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Figure 1 A first embodiment of the operating component 1 according to the present invention is shown. It is used to perform operation input via the movable drive component 3 in the context of a human-machine interface.

[0031] The operating member 1 according to the invention includes a carrier 2. The term "carrier" should be interpreted broadly and refers to, for example, a component used to secure a drive member to a support structure or indirectly or directly to, for example, a motor vehicle component. Here, the carrier 2 is configured as a housing, and the operator cannot see the carrier 2 if the operating member 1 is connected as intended. The carrier 2 is formed of plastic, metal, or a metal alloy (e.g., ZAMAK) or a combination thereof, and further serves to secure a circuit board 7, which carries detection devices 8, 9 for touch or drive detection, such as a capacitive force sensor 8 and a microprocessor 9.

[0032] The operating member 1 according to the invention further includes a drive member 3, which is supported on a carrier member 2 and forms a visible surface 10 facing the operator, and at least one island-shaped drive surface 11 is formed within the visible surface 10, wherein the drive surface 11 is formed by a cantilever drive portion 6 of the drive member 3; and the drive portion 6 is surrounded by an insulating portion 5 of the drive member 3, which is more flexible than the drive portion 6, thereby enabling the drive portion 6 to be supported to vibrate relative to the carrier member 2, particularly in a direction perpendicular to the drive surface 11.

[0033] According to the invention, an actuator 4 is also provided, which, from the operator's perspective, is fixed to the drive portion 6 below the drive member 3 or to the side facing away from the operator. Upon confirmation of a drive or touch, an electrical excitation signal I(t) is applied to it by detection devices 8 and 9 to excite vibration of the drive portion 6 for tactile feedback. The actuator 4 is an active actuator, i.e., an actuator triggered by the electrical excitation signal provided by detection devices 8 and 9, and is capable of exciting deflection or vibration in the drive portion 6 by applying a pulse (e.g., an impact) or applying vibration to the drive portion 6 of the drive member 3, which the operator can tactilely perceive by placing a finger on the drive surface 11. For example, this tactile perception serves as a confirmation signal for a performed touch or drive, or as tactile confirmation of a performed switch or control input. Preferably, the actuator 4 is a voice coil actuator or a linear resonant actuator. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 4 is specifically fixed to the drive member 3, for example by screws or adhesive. Preferably, the drive surface 11 constitutes less than half, preferably less than 1 / 5, and more preferably less than 1 / 10 of the visible surface 10 of the drive member 3 facing the operator. Preferably, the maximum diameter of the driving surface 11 is no more than 2 cm.

[0034] Due to the structure of the drive component 3, the dynamic stiffness (understood as the local dynamic elastic modulus and local entropy of the local thickness of the drive component) varies along a measurement segment with a maximum length of 1 cm. This measurement segment is introduced from or passes through the insulating portion 5 and is located on the visible surface 10. This results in a first transfer function U1 determined at the beginning X1 of the measurement segment located within the drive surface 11 for a continuous frequency range between 30 Hz and 1000 Hz, and a second transfer function U2 determined at the end X2 of the measurement segment located outside the drive surface in the same frequency range, differing by at least 5 dB. Figure 2 As shown. For example, the end X2 is therefore located outside the insulating portion, i.e., in a portion of the visible surface 10 outside the insulating surface associated with the insulating portion 5, and outside the driving surface 11. For example, the transfer function is determined by a vibration sensor (e.g., a piezoelectric transducer or a laser vibrometer), and the electrical excitation signal I(t) applied to the driver 4 is the same in each case, with a bandwidth limited to 10 Hz to 4000 Hz, and configured as white noise, pink noise, or multiple sine waves.

[0035] Due to the configuration of the insulating portion 5 according to the invention, significant damping of vibration transmission in the region of the drive member 3 located outside the drive portion 6 is achieved for a typical excitation spectrum used for tactile stimulation, for example, as Figure 2 The middle is marked as X f The excitation spectrum is assumed to originate from the excitation signal I(t). Therefore, the tactile feedback is confined to the drive portion 6 with the drive surface 11 within the maximum spectral range, and corresponding damping is applied outside the drive surface 11, allowing the operator to successfully tactilely locate the tactile feedback within the actual drive surface 11 located on the visible surface 10. Furthermore, this results in the minimization of the area where noise is transmitted outside the drive portion 6. Thus, the tactile feedback is not only improved in its connection to the location of the drive surface 11, but also improved overall.

[0036] In this case, the electrical excitation signal intended for tactile stimulation is bandwidth-limited in such a way that its excitation spectrum is between 30 Hz and 1000 Hz, preferably between 40 Hz and 600 Hz, and partially or completely includes at least the aforementioned frequency range X. f Preferably, the entire excitation spectrum of the excitation signal, or 80% of it, or at least most of it, lies within the aforementioned frequency range X. f Inside.

[0037] The aforementioned change in dynamic stiffness is caused by a change in the thickness of the drive component 3, defined perpendicular to the visible surface, and / or a localized change in the material composition of the drive component 3. This is an abrupt change. A transition is considered abrupt or discontinuous if the resulting dynamic stiffness at least doubles or at most halves over a distance of 1 mm along the measurement segment. In the illustrated embodiment, the thickness change is formed by a groove 12 provided on the side of the drive component 3 facing away from the operator, wherein the inner wall of the groove 12 closer to the drive surface 11 changes abruptly in thickness.

[0038] like Figure 3 As shown, the duration of the electrical excitation signal is limited to less than 100 ms, preferably less than 25 ms, in order to reduce low-frequency components in the excitation spectrum.

[0039] like Figure 1 As shown, the driving component 3, at least the driving portion, is formed by a layer structure consisting of several layers 3a, 3b, and 3c, wherein at least two layers 3a and 3b have different elastic moduli.

[0040] In this case, one layer of the layered structure is a high-strength layer 3b of material with the maximum elastic modulus of the layered structure, which extends substantially parallel to the drive surface 11, here between the actuator 4 and the drive surface 11.

[0041] Furthermore, the thickness of the high-strength layer 3b in the insulation portion is reduced to zero in order to provide the aforementioned thickness variation.

[0042] The high-strength layer 3b is formed of thermoplastics, such as polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate, particularly fiber-reinforced thermoplastics, to provide the drive portion 6 with relatively high rigidity.

[0043] The layered structure also includes a highly elastic layer 4a of material having the minimum elastic modulus of the layered structure. This layer 4a has the largest layer thickness among all the layers 3b and 3c involved in the insulating portion 5 within the insulating portion, in order to provide its flexibility. The layer 3c, which covers the entire surface area of ​​the visible surface 10, is merely a relatively thin covering layer, such as a transparent film.

[0044] In this case, the highly elastic layer 3a is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.

Claims

1. An operating component (1), comprising: Supporting component (2); A drive component (3) is supported on the carrier (2) and forms a visible surface (10) facing the operator, and at least one island-shaped drive surface (11) is formed within the visible surface (10); wherein the drive surface (11) is formed by a cantilever drive portion (6) of the drive component (3); the drive portion (6) is surrounded by a flexible insulating portion (5) of the drive component (3) such that the drive portion (6) is supported to vibrate relative to the carrier (2); the flexible insulating portion (5) is more flexible than the drive portion (6); Detection devices (8, 9) are used to detect touches on the driving surface and / or the driving of the driving component (3); The driver (4), which is fixed on the side facing away from the operator from the perspective of the operator, on the driving part (6) of the driving component (3), in the case of a positive detection of driving or touch, an electrical excitation signal (I(t)) is applied to the driver (4) by the detection device (8, 9) so as to excite the vibration of the driving part (6) for tactile feedback. The dynamic stiffness variation of the drive component (3), defined along a measurement segment with a maximum length of 1 cm that is introduced from or passes through the insulating portion (5) and lies on the visible surface, results in a variation over a continuous frequency range (X) between 30 Hz and 1000 Hz. F The first transfer function (U1) determined at the beginning (x1) of the measurement segment differs by at least 5 dB from the second transfer function (U2) determined at the end (x2) of the measurement segment for the same frequency range.

2. The operating component (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrical excitation signal (I(t)) has an excitation spectrum between 30 Hz and 1000 Hz, which at least partially includes the frequency range (X). F ).

3. The operating component (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The electrical excitation signal (I(t)) has an excitation spectrum between 40 Hz and 600 Hz, which completely includes the frequency range (X). F ).

4. The operating component (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The change in dynamic stiffness is caused by the change in thickness defined perpendicular to the visible surface and / or the change in the material composition of the drive component (3).

5. The operating component (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The change in dynamic stiffness is caused by a sudden change in thickness defined perpendicular to the visible surface and / or a sudden change in the material composition of the drive component (3).

6. The operating component (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The thickness variation is formed by a groove (12) provided on the side of the drive component (3) facing away from the operator.

7. The operating component (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The duration of the electrical excitation signal is limited to less than 100 ms.

8. The operating component (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The duration of the electrical excitation signal is limited to less than 25 ms.

9. The operating component (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insulating portion (5) is formed to extend completely around the driving portion (6).

10. The operating component (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The driving component (3), at least the driving portion, is formed by a layer structure consisting of at least two layers (3a, 3b, 3c), wherein the elastic moduli of the at least two layers (3a, 3b) are different.

11. The operating member (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that, One layer of the layered structure is a high-strength layer (3b) of material having the maximum elastic modulus of the layered structure, which extends substantially parallel to the driving surface (11).

12. The operating component (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that, The thickness of the high-strength layer (3b) is reduced in the insulating portion (5) to provide a thickness variation.

13. The operating component (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that, The high-strength layer (3b) is formed of thermoplastic.

14. The operating component (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that, The high-strength layer (3b) is formed of polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate.

15. The operating component (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that, The high-strength layer (3b) is formed of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic.

16. The operating member (1) according to any one of claims 10-15, characterized in that, The layer structure has a highly elastic layer (3a) of material having the minimum elastic modulus of the layer structure, which has the maximum layer thickness among all the layers involved in the insulating portion (5) within the insulating portion (5).

17. The operating member (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that, The highly elastic layer (3a) is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.

18. The operating member (1) according to any one of claims 10-15, characterized in that, The layered structure has additional layers for providing material and thickness variations.

19. The operating component (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The driver (4) is supported only on the driving component.

20. The operating component (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive surface (11) constitutes less than half of the visible surface (10) of the drive component (3) facing the operator.

21. The operating component (1) according to claim 20, characterized in that, The driving surface (11) constitutes less than 1 / 5 of the visible surface (10) of the driving component (3) facing the operator.

22. The operating component (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, Several drive sections (6) are provided, each having a related driver (4) and surrounding insulation (5).

23. The operating component (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The maximum diameter of the driving surface (11) does not exceed 2 cm.

24. The application of an operating member (1) according to any one of claims 1-23 in a motor vehicle.

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