Capacitive operating unit operable in translation with defined switching point

Abstract

The invention relates to a capacitive operating unit (1) having a closed diaphragm (10) extending in a plane, the diaphragm (10) having a rear side and a visible side, and at least one capacitive sensor (11), a fixed central element (20) and an operating element (30) which can be moved parallel to the plane relative to the central element (20) are arranged on the visible side of the partition (10), the central element (20) and the operating element (30) having at least one predetermined common contact point (A1, B1, C1, A2, B2, C2), the at least one capacitive sensor (11) is arranged on the rear side of the diaphragm (10) and is designed as an electrical contact established by the movement of the operating element (30) parallel to the plane, generating a local change in the electric field at the at least one contact point (A1, B1, C1, A2, B2, C2), the at least one capacitive sensor (11) being arranged on the rear side of the diaphragm (10), and the at least one capacitive sensor (11) being arranged on the rear side of the diaphragm (10). And configured to detect respective local variations in the electric field and to assign respective positions on the visible side of the diaphragm (10) to the respective local variations.

Description

[0001] manual:

[0002] The present invention relates to a capacitive operating unit that can be operated translationally, in which the operating element can be moved at least by a translational movement relative to a fixed central element and can make electrical contact with the central element at a predetermined contact point, wherein the contact can cause a local change in the electric field, which can be detected by a capacitive sensor that is spatially separated, in particular by a partition, thereby triggering a related function.

[0003] Various operating units are known from the prior art, but these are only suitable for specific applications or have various disadvantages.

[0004] Mechanical switches and buttons, for example, such as those known from US Pat. No. 11012069 B2, do not allow for a complete spatial separation between the operating unit and the circuit which detects the operation.

[0005] Capacitive touchscreens tend not to provide direct tactile feedback, or often require direct visual contact for precise control.

[0006] Other capacitive switches, such as those used in keyboards and known from US 2021 / 0320659 A1, typically only allow each capacitive sensor to recognize a single manipulation, and therefore can only recognize movements or manipulations orthogonal to the partition that spatially separates the sensors.

[0007] According to document DE102006043619A1, the operating unit is also provided with a partition that spatially separates the capacitive sensor, wherein the operating element on the side of the partition facing away from the sensor can move freely along a unique predetermined movement path, so that on the one hand, operation along different movement paths is not feasible or recognizable, and on the other hand, a defined switching point or operation point cannot be determined or tactilely detected.

[0008] The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the above disadvantages and to provide an operating unit which, on the one hand, spatially separates the operating element and the unit for detecting the operation and, on the other hand, provides correspondingly defined switching points, in particular along at least one movement path or axis.

[0009] This object is achieved by the combination of features described in patent claim 1 .

[0010] Therefore, according to the invention, a capacitive operating unit is proposed, with a closed partition extending in a plane and at least one capacitive sensor. Here, the partition has a back side and a visible side, the visible side being determined in particular by the fact that it can be touched by an operator during normal use, whereas the back side is preferably inaccessible to the operator or facing away from the operator. On the visible side of the partition, a central element fixed relative to the partition and an operating element movable parallel to the plane, in particular completely parallel to the plane, are arranged. In this case, the central element can be integrated or integrally formed with the partition, or can be fixed to the partition. If the central element is arranged to be separated from the partition, the central element can be constructed as a single piece or multiple pieces, wherein in the case of a multiple piece construction, the individual parts can be spaced apart from each other and indirectly connected via a partition or an intermediate element. The central element and the operating element have at least one predetermined common contact point, and the central element and the operating element are constructed so that, when an electrical contact is established by a translational or rotational movement of the operating element parallel to the plane, the electric field is locally changed at at least one contact point. In this case, each contact point can be understood as a defined switching point. At least one capacitive sensor is also arranged on the rear side of the partition and is designed to detect individual local changes in the electric field and to assign individual positions on the visible side of the partition to the individual local changes. The closed partition allows the sensor arranged on the rear side and the operating element arranged on the visible side to be completely separated in space, wherein the operating element can be detected and operated in a tactile manner. In this case, the operating element can be moved mechanically to a defined switching point or contact point, at which a stop can also be provided to limit the movement of the operating element.

[0011] Thus, the capacitive sensor senses or detects switching in a capacitive and contactless manner through the closed surface formed by the partition, thereby triggering the function assigned to each contact point.

[0012] Since it is a closed partition, preferably no element extends to the back side of the partition, and in particular the central element does not extend to the back side of the partition. In addition, preferably no other conductive elements or electrical components extend through the partition, and in particular conductive elements or electrical components that are functionally associated with the operating unit do not extend through the partition.

[0013] An advantageous further development provides that the operating element surrounds the central element and surrounds it on multiple sides. In this case, the central element is in particular completely surrounded by the housing formed by the operating element and the partition. Preferably in this case, the partition forms one side of the housing, wherein the other side of the housing is formed by the operating element.

[0014] In an advantageous variant, the operating element is also held in a resilient manner on the central element and is thus preferably fixed to the partition by at least one non-conductive connector. The connector is in particular designed as an elastically deformable dome and is made, for example, of silicone. A dome or silicone dome is understood here to be a bell-shaped or cylindrical geometry with an interior space that is open, in particular, on one side.

[0015] By means of the non-conductive connector or by the elastic recovery achieved therewith, the operating element can also be kept in a neutral basic position on the central element, in which no contact point establishes contact. From the basic position, the operating element can be deflected in a manner that at least one contact point establishes contact.

[0016] Furthermore, a contact pin extending from the central element to the operating element and in particular configured as a pin can extend over at least one contact point. The contact pin or contact needle is configured such that, when contact is established by movement of the operating element, an electrical connection is established between the central element and the operating element at the contact point, which results in a local change in the electric field. Preferably, the contact pin is electrically conductively connected to the central element on its side facing the central element.

[0017] A contact body, in particular a contact body configured as a contact sheet or a quick-release spring sheet, may also be arranged between the contact pin and the operating element, through which an electrical connection with the operating element can be established. In this case, the contact pin is configured so that, when contact is established by movement of the operating element, the contact pin can directly act or press on the contact body, and the contact body is thereby pressed toward the operating element and establishes electrical contact.

[0018] According to an advantageous variant, the non-conductive connector is designed as an elastically deformable dome which surrounds the contact pin in the circumferential direction of the contact pin designed as a pin and holds the contact body, i.e. the contact sheet or snap-action spring, adjacent to the end of the contact pin on the operating element side. On the connector, the contact surface formed by the contact pin is arranged toward the central element, while the contact surface formed by the contact body is arranged toward the operating element.

[0019] Since the contact pin is preferably a rigid body arranged between the operating element and the central element, the contact pin can, if necessary, integrally form a stop together with the contact body and the elastic connector to mechanically limit the movement of the operating element relative to the central element.

[0020] It is also preferably provided that the central element has an electrically conductive element and is in particular configured as a printed circuit board extending orthogonally to the plane. In this case, the central element itself can be configured as a single piece or as multiple pieces, so that, for example, the central element can be formed by multiple printed circuit boards each extending orthogonally to the plane.

[0021] In order to influence or change the electric field, the operating element can be composed of an electrically conductive material.

[0022] Alternatively, the operating element can have, on its inner surface facing the central element, an electrically conductive element, by means of which an electrically conductive contact can be established with the central element, for example via contact pins and / or contact bodies.

[0023] As a further alternative, the operating element can have an electrically conductive coating on its inner surface facing the central element.

[0024] The central element and the operating element preferably have at least one pair of contact points. The pair of contact points consists of exactly one first contact point and a second contact point, which are arranged opposite each other on the central element. The first contact point is designed to produce a first local change in the electric field at the first contact point when electrical contact is established along the movement axis by a first movement of the operating element parallel to the plane, and the second contact point is designed to produce a second local change in the electric field at the second contact point when electrical contact is established along the movement axis by a second movement of the operating element parallel to the plane and opposite to the first movement along the movement axis.

[0025] Accordingly, at least one capacitive sensor can detect a first change and a second change, wherein the position of a first contact point in each pair of contact points is assigned to the first change and the position of a second contact point in each pair of contact points is assigned to the second change.

[0026] Since the two contact points are located opposite each other and along the axis of movement on the central element, they cannot be actuated simultaneously, but rather depending on the direction of movement or the application of force on the actuating element.

[0027] A plurality of pairs of contact elements may also be provided, wherein preferably a movement axis is assigned to each pair of contact elements and the movement axes are different from one another.

[0028] If at least two mutually non-aligned contact points, preferably at least three contact points or two pairs of contact points, are provided, it is also possible to detect movements with a rotational component in which the operating element is tilted relative to its neutral basic position.

[0029] Although a solution in which a capacitive sensor is provided at each contact point is also feasible, an advantageous variant provides that the capacitive sensor is a surface sensor which is arranged on the back side of the partition at least in the area of ​​the contact points, so that contacts at different contact points and simultaneous contacts at different contact points can be detected by the surface sensor.

[0030] Furthermore, it is provided that the operating unit has evaluation electronics connected to the capacitive sensor, which are designed to trigger the respective position-dependent functions to be switched. In addition or alternatively, it can also be provided that the evaluation electronics can determine the direction and / or manner of movement of the operating element based on the local changes in the electric field at the respective contact points detected by at least one capacitive sensor and / or based on the position of the change in the electric field determined by at least one capacitive sensor. Accordingly, the direction in which the operating element deviates from its neutral basic position and whether the operating element is tilted can be determined by the evaluation electronics, so that a distinction can be made between translational and rotational manipulation. Depending on the manipulation direction of the operating element, the translational or rotational manipulation or the position of the change in the electric field, the correspondingly assigned function can be triggered by the evaluation electronics.

[0031] The evaluation electronics can also be designed to be integrated with the sensor.

[0032] For example, in a variant of the operating unit, the operating unit is provided for operating a seat position in a vehicle. In this application, it is preferably provided that the central element has an angled basic shape with a plurality of legs and covers a corresponding angled area on the partition. At least one contact point is provided on the first leg, in particular two contact points are provided opposite to each other on the central element, i.e. a pair of contact points. Furthermore, at least one contact point is provided on the second leg, in particular two contact points are provided opposite to each other on the central element, i.e. also a pair of contact points. Furthermore, the central element has an end face on at least one of its legs, on which at least one contact point is provided, and a second corresponding contact point can also be provided on one of the legs, so that they form another pair of contact points.

[0033] Each area of ​​the motor vehicle seat can be assigned a leg accordingly and, by corresponding displacement of the operating element, the areas of the motor vehicle seat can be adjusted accordingly and driven electrically.

[0034] As long as it is technically feasible and not contradictory, the features disclosed above can be combined as needed.

[0035] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims or are explained in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] Figure 1 A first variant of the operating unit is shown in a basic position;

[0037] Figure 2 A first variant of the operating unit is shown in an operating position;

[0038] Figure 3 A second variant of the operating unit is shown.

[0039] The accompanying drawings are schematic examples. The same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings represent the same functions and / or structural features.

[0040] Figure 1 and Figure 2 An exemplary simplified operating unit 1 is shown with only one pair of contact points A1, A2, wherein Figure 1 The display operating unit 1 is in a non-operating position or a neutral basic position, Figure 2 The display operation unit 1 is in the operating position.

[0041] Capacitive operating unit 1 is shown in a plan view, wherein the plane in which web 10 extends corresponds to the display plane, wherein the visible side of web 10 faces the observer and the rear side of web 10 faces away from the observer.

[0042] The central element 20 fixed to the partition 10 is arranged on the visible side of the partition 10, so that its position relative to the partition 10 is fixed and cannot be moved. In addition, an operating element 30 is arranged on the visible side of the partition 10, which is movably held on the central element 20 via a contact pin 41 designed as a pin and a connector 40 and can thus be moved parallel to the plane or parallel to the partition 10.

[0043] In this case, the central element 20 and the operating element 30 have two common contact points A1, A2, which are located opposite one another on the central element 20 and on a common first movement axis A. Figure 1 In the non-operating position shown, there is no conductive contact between the central element 20 and the operating element 30 at any of the contact points A1, A2, so that the electric field (not shown) is not affected or remains unchanged. If the operating element 30 is subjected to a force or moved along the axis of movement A, an electrical contact occurs at one of the contact points A1, A2 depending on the direction of movement, which affects or changes the electric field.

[0044] exist Figure 2 In the operating position shown, the operating element 30 is acted upon by a force F from below in the plane of the drawing, so that the operating element 30 is moved upward along the movement axis A, thereby forming contact between the operating element 30 and the central element 20 at the second contact point A2.

[0045] An electrical contact is established at the second contact point A2 via the contact pin 41 formed by a pin and the contact body 42 designed as a contact sheet, so that the central element 20 and the operating element 30 are electrically conductively connected and an electric field change is generated.

[0046] A capacitive sensor 11 is provided on the back side of the partition 10, which is separated from the visible side of the partition 10 and the components arranged on the visible side, and the capacitive sensor is correspondingly hidden in the drawings and is therefore represented by dashed lines. The sensor 11 is constructed as an area sensor and covers an area on the back side of the partition 10, and on the visible side of the partition 10, the contact points A1, A2 are located in this area.

[0047] If the electrical contact at the contact points A1, A2 causes a change in the electric field, the capacitive sensor 11 detects this change and records the position of the change, thereby determining whether the electrical contact occurred at the first contact point A1 or the second contact point A2. Thus, a function related to each contact point A1, A2 or a function related to the movement that caused each contact can be triggered.

[0048] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the simplified embodiment shown, for example, an electrically adjustable window can be operated by the operating element, the window being raised when contact is made at the second contact point A2 and being lowered when contact is made at the first contact point A1.

[0049] In this case, the central element 20 is designed as a circuit board or printed circuit board, which is provided in the region of the contact pins 41 with contacts to which the contact pins 41 can be fastened.

[0050] In order to change the electric field, the operating element 30 may be made of a conductive material and / or have a conductive coating or electrical components on its inner surface 31 facing the central element 20 .

[0051] The connector 40 is configured as a silicone dome, extends around the contact pins 41 in the circumferential direction, and holds the contact body 42 between each contact pin 41 and the operating element 30. In the basic position, the contact body 42 does not necessarily have to be arranged directly on the operating element 30, but can also be at a certain distance from the operating element, which distance is only reduced at the operating position and the contact point where the contact is established.

[0052] If a force is applied to the operating element 30 along the movement axis A and the operating element 30 is displaced, the connector 40 is elastically deformed, so that the contact pin 41 and the contact body 42 are in contact.

[0053] If the force causing the movement is removed, the elastically deformed silicone dome or connector 40 will relax and restore the operating element 30 to the initial position, so that the operating element 30 will be restored to the original position by the elastic force. Figure 1 Neutral basic position shown.

[0054] exist Figure 2In the embodiment of the present invention, a rotation or tilting of the operating element 30 cannot be detected, although this is also allowed. Alternatively, additional (not shown) guide elements can also be provided, for example arranged on the partition 10 or formed integrally with the central element 20, by which the operating element 30 is prevented from rotating or tilting and the operating element 30 is guided parallel to the movement axis A.

[0055] Figure 3 The operating unit 1 shown is preferably used for operating an electrically adjustable vehicle seat, wherein the operating element 30 and the central element 20 imitate the angled shape of the seat.

[0056] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The description can be extended by analogy, and thus also applies to Figure 3 Variant of .

[0057] In this case, the central part 20 has two legs 21, 22, which are arranged at an angle to each other, so that the central element 20 has a basic shape that imitates the shape of a seat. In this case, the two legs 21, 22 are arranged separately on the partition 10, wherein the legs 21, 22 can also be directly connected to each other or connected via a common intermediate element.

[0058] A further section 23 of the central element 20 is also arranged on the end face of the first leg 21 .

[0059] To operate the car seat, Figure 3 The operating unit shown has three pairs of contact points A1 , A2 , B1 , B2 , C1 , C2 , wherein in each case two contact points are situated opposite each other on the respective axis of movement A, B, C.

[0060] For example, the vehicle seat may be moved upwards or downwards via a first pair of contact points A1 , A2 , which detect a movement or application of force along a first axis of movement A.

[0061] The second pair of contact points B1 , B2 is configured to detect movement or application of force along the second axis of motion B, or configured to be detectable by the sensor 11 , thereby adjusting the inclination of the seat back.

[0062] Furthermore, the third pair of contact points C1, C2 is configured to detect a movement or application of force along the third movement axis C and thereby move the vehicle seat forward or backward in the vehicle. In this case, this results in contact of the second contact point B2 of the second pair of contact points B1, B2, wherein the operation request can still be correctly detected due to the contact of the contact point C2.

[0063] In this case, the operating element 30 can be moved or tilted not only in translation but also in a rotational manner with a small ratio.

[0064] If force is applied to the operating element 30 , for example only at one point along the second movement axis B, the operating element 30 rotates relative to the illustrated neutral basic position and contacts only at the second contact point B2 of the second pair of contact points B1 , B2 .

Claims

1. A capacitive operating unit (1) having a closed partition (10) extending in a plane and at least one capacitive sensor (11), in, The partition (10) has a back side and a visible side, A fixed central element (20) and an operating element (30) movable relative to the central element (20) parallel to the plane are arranged on the visible side of the partition (10), The central element (20) and the operating element (30) have at least one predetermined common contact point (A1, B1, C1, A2, B2, C2), and are configured to generate a local change of the electric field at the at least one contact point (A1, B1, C1, A2, B2, C2) by moving the operating element (30) parallel to the plane to establish electrical contact. The at least one capacitive sensor (11) is arranged on the back side of the partition (10) and is configured to detect individual local changes of the electric field and to assign individual positions on the visible side of the partition (10) to the individual local changes.

2. The operating unit according to claim 1, in, The operating element (30) surrounds the central element (20) and encloses it on multiple sides. The central element (20) is surrounded, in particular completely surrounded, by a housing formed by the operating element (30) and the partition (10).

3. The operating unit according to claim 1 or 2, in, The operating element (30) is held on the central element (20) in a resilient manner by means of at least one electrically non-conductive connector (40), which is in particular designed as an elastically deformable dome.

4. An operating unit according to any one of the preceding claims, in, At least one of the contact points (A1, B1, C1, A2, B2, C2) has a contact pin (41) extending from the central element (20) to the operating element (30), wherein the contact pin is particularly configured as a pin, and wherein the contact pin is configured to establish an electrical connection between the central element (20) and the operating element (30) when contact is established by movement of the operating element (30), wherein the electrical connection causes a local change in the electric field.

5. An operating unit according to the preceding claim, in, A contact body (42) is arranged between the contact pin (41) and the operating element (30), the contact body being in particular designed as a contact sheet or a snap-action spring, via which an electrical connection to the operating element (30) can be established. And wherein the contact pin (41) is configured to directly press on the contact body (42) when contact is established by movement of the operating element (30).

6. An operating unit according to any one of the three preceding claims, in, The non-conductive connector (40) is constructed as an elastically deformable dome, which surrounds the contact pin (41) in the circumferential direction of the contact pin and holds the contact body (42) at the end of the contact pin (41) on the operating element side. In which, on the connector (40), a contact surface formed by the contact pin (41) is provided on the central element side, and a contact surface formed by the contact body (42) is provided on the operating element side.

7. An operating unit according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The central element (20) has an electrically conductive element and is in particular designed as a printed circuit board extending orthogonally to the plane.

8. An operating unit according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The operating element (30) is made of a conductive material, or having a conductive element on its inner surface (31) facing the central element (20), or, On its inner surface (31) facing the central element (20) there is a conductive coating.

9. An operating unit according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The central element (20) and the operating element (30) have at least one pair of contact points, The paired contact points include a first contact point (A1, B1, C1) and a second contact point (A2, B2, C2) that are opposite to each other on the central element (20). wherein the first contact point (A1, B1, C1) is configured to produce a first local change in the electric field at the first contact point (A1, B1, C1) when electrical contact is established along the movement axis (A, B, C) by a first movement of the operating element (30) parallel to the plane, and The second contact point (A2, B2, C2) is constructed so that when electrical contact is established by a second movement of the operating element (30) parallel to the plane and along the movement axis (A, B, C) in the opposite direction of the first movement, a second local change of the electric field is generated at the second contact point (A2, B2, C2).

10. An operating unit according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The capacitive sensor (11) is a surface sensor which is arranged on the rear side of the partition (10) at least in the region of the contact points (A1, B1, C1, A2, B2, C2).

11. An operating unit according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The central element (20) has an angled basic shape consisting of a plurality of legs (21, 22) and covers a corresponding angled area on the partition (10). wherein at least one contact point (A1, A2) is arranged on the first leg (21), wherein at least one contact point (B1, B2, C2) is arranged on the second leg (22), At least one contact point (C1) is arranged on the end surface of at least one leg (21, 22).

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